5-year-old takes on the Hedgehog Walk 2026
Catherine Craig
Hugo completed the Wildlife Trust Hedgehog Walk by walking 3km from 30th March to 30th April and raising £55 as vital funds for nature.
Find out why this little explorer wanted to sign up and how easy it is for you to do too!
Catherine Craig
Why Did Hugo Sign Up?
We had a lovely experience completing the fundraising challenge together. I pick Hugo up once a week from school and we were able to manage to fit in a few activities together. From bug spotting to colouring in, there was a wide range of resources available to us in the lead up to our walk.
Hugo was motivated to sign up for the Hedgehog Walk because "I want to find cool bugs!" We visited the local park after school to find ladybirds, butterflies, snails and worms.
As Hugo is 5, we planned an exciting walk to a local landmark, Chesterton Windmill, so that the ending of his fundraising challenge would feel monumental to him.
We shared it with Hugo's primary school class and invited one of his school friends, Thomas, along with his mum so that they could explore and have fun together along the route, which made the walk enjoyable for their little legs.
As an adult, it gave me structured activities to do with Hugo and encouraged me to get outdoors after work and on weekends. He was more excited about completing the free resources than immediately turning on the TV.
It was a great opportunity to connect as a family and with nature.
Because I want to find cool bugs!
Catherine Craig
Step One: Downloaded the Activity Pack
We printed off the free activity pack from the Wildlife Trust that included:
- wildlife spotter sheet
- hedgehog maze
- colouring-in poster
- make your own animal masks
- how to help hedgehogs
Step Two: Create a Fundraising Page
It was simple and straightforward to set up our own fundraising page. You can sign up here
We set the fundraising target to £30, which meant once it's achieved, Hugo got sent a sewn-on badge to celebrate his efforts.
Step Three: Plan to walk 3km
A hedgehog can travel up to 3km in one night which is so far for such a small mammal! That's why the Wildlife Trust are encouraging little ones to challenge themselves to walk the same distance, either in one day or over a longer period of time.
We did small walks throughout the month after school to get 0.5km in here and there. Then, we organised a bigger walk with one of Hugo's school friends at the end of April to finish at Chesterton Windmill, Warwickshire.
Step Four: Get Outdoors and Spot Nature
When you sign up, you get to access lots of resources like a Spring Wildlife Spotter sheet which can help to spot different types of nature while out and about.
We spotted native wildflowers, Red Campion, as well as butterflies, blackbirds, bumblebees, pigeons, ladybirds, and more. It was a gorgeous, spring day and we could see for miles at the top of the hill.
Catherine Craig
Step Five: Bring a Picnic Along and Enjoy the View
At the top of Chesterton Windmill, we set up a picnic blanket and refuelled after our walk. This gave us the chance to pause and take a moment to appreciate the wonderful nature of Warwickshire.
Catherine Craig
Step Six: Use extra resources
Hugo brought along his favourite pair of red binoculars to be able to find cool bugs along the walk
Make sure to use them the right way round!
Catherine Craig
Step Seven: Get Your Family and Friends Involved
Invite your close ones to come along on your walk to enjoy the outdoors together. This could be getting a bit competitive with a run or sharing a moment to appreciate a peacock butterfly.
It was such a nice way for Hugo to see one of his school friends on the weekend and for us to get to know a school mum better.
Catherine Craig
Step Eight: Collect Your Hedgehog Walk 2026 Badge
Once you've hit your fundraising target of £30, The Wildlife Trust send out a sew-on badge to mark your achievement to fundraise for wildlife.
We sent Hugo's fundraiser to close family members and friends, managing to beat that target and raise £55 which was great news for a young child.
It was a great opportunity to connect as a family and with nature
How Can You Get Involved?
The Wildlife Trust Hedgehog Walk runs from 30th March to 30th April, so unfortunately it is now closed.
However, you can sign up next year!
In June, Warwickshire Wildlife Trust host their 30 Days Wild challenge which helps you to do 1 thing for nature each day. From wildlife spotting to taking a photograph of your favourite flower, there is something for everyone of all ages and abilities.
Get ready for 30 Days Wild by visiting our dedicated webpage for inspiration!
