Lyndon Howson, a final-year Zoology student from the University of Chester, has been shortlisted for a Mammals Champion award.
This award marks the 70th anniversary of the Mammals Society and is a new award that has been launched to recognise those who give up their time and energy to work for a brighter future for British mammals.
The 26-year-old from Grange-over-Sands was nominated for his dedication and leadership in volunteering as project coordinator for the student-led Hedgehog Friendly Campus Project at the University of Chester.
Lyndon said: “To be nominated and put forward by members of the public is incredible. To see the work that we are doing, I think it is not only a great achievement for myself but also for everyone involved because it shows that people are recognising and valuing the impact we are making.”
“It was so exciting – everyone knows me as ‘the hedgehog guy’. To be put forward, especially for my work with hedgehogs just makes it even more special for me.”
The project aims to increase the hedgehog population and other biodiversity at the university campus.
The project which currently has achieved its silver award status and is working towards its gold has been running since 2021. Expanding from 7 to 170 volunteers, the hedgehog population has now successfully grown from 0 to 8 with three hoglets born last year.
By collaborating with Chester Zoo Network for Nature, Lyndon has broadened the scope of volunteer opportunities and consistently participates by taking part in habitat-enhancing initiatives.
He said: “We do everything in this project from planting meadows, putting in some trees to building new hedgehog houses. Just last week on campus we built a large book hotel with a ground stem.”
Beyond university, Lyndon has worked tirelessly to expand the project’s reach. He even participated in Chester Zoo’s Wildlife Connections Festival, to engage with over 4,000 members of the public spreading awareness about hedgehog conservation.
Lyndon said his favourite memory of the project was when: “I went to do one of the feeding stations in the summer. As I was walking, I noticed something blocking the entrance. It was quite dark so as I got closer, I realised it was one of our hedgehogs. It was Spot, our adult breeding female, she had fallen to sleep at the entrance of the hedgehog house. It is as though she had eaten so much food she couldn’t move.”
Growing up in the Lake District fuelled Lyndon’s passion from a young age as a child he would spend hours outdoors with friends exploring and admiring the wildlife.
Lyndon said: “I think when I first came to university, I wanted to be a zookeeper. Since getting involved with this project my aspirations have grown a lot more. Now I want to continue down the path of conservation, especially conservation with native species and within that I want to try and find ways to get young people involved.”
When completing his DofE gold award, Lyndon was diagnosed with cancer.
Once completing this award, he was invited to Buckingham Place – on the same day he received this invitation, he was notified he was cancer-free.
During his visit to Buckingham Palace Lyndon had the opportunity to meet Jill Scot and Prince Edward.
We must remember the little things have a big impact
Here Lyndon addressed a global audience of over a thousand people emphasising the importance of hedgehog conservation.
Lyndon said: “We must remember the little things have a big impact.”
The announcement of the winner of the Mammals Award is due to be released over the next coming weeks.
Featured image (c) Ed Crispin / Ian Smithers
