UK’s 2025 Hedgehog Cup kicks off
Football fans across the UK are urged to support their clubs in the 2025/26 Hedgehog Cup – run by The British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS)
The Hedgehog Cup will see 32 clubs from the Hedgehog Friendly Football League drawn to ‘play’ each other – not to score goals on the pitch, but to score points by carrying out hedgehog-friendly actions.
The Round 1 draw took place on 24th November 2025.
The clubs have been drawn at random to play against each other and now have four weeks to score points before Round 2 is drawn. There will be five rounds in total, with the Hedgehog Cup final scheduled for May 2026.
Round One Draw
Find more information on point scoring activities and Cup Rules here.
The Cup is an opportunity for smaller clubs to take on Premier League giants in the battle to win a piece of silverware to show they care for wildlife and the environment!
Fay Vass, Chief Executive at BHPS said: “Whilst there may not be many hedgehogs at the stadiums, there certainly will be in fans gardens and maybe at training grounds too, so it’s vital we get the message out there about being mindful of wildlife when we do maintenance or gardening.
“The 2024/25 Hedgehog Cup saw Premiership giants Wolverhampton Wanderers take the cup – and we’re really excited to see all 32 clubs get stuck in this season and encourage their Men’s, Women’s and Academy teams to all get involved in scoring points.
“Hedgehog numbers are in serious decline and it’s more important than ever that we stand together to help protect their welfare and habitats –supporting the Cup and the Hedgehog Friendly Football League is a brilliant way to do just that.”
What is Hedgehog Friendly Football?
The Hedgehog Friendly Football League (HFFL) spreads the word about hedgehog-safe groundskeeping, getting clubs to place ‘check for hedgehogs before using’ warning stickers on all their grounds maintenance machines, and encouraging fans to look after their own gardens and green spaces with hedgehogs in mind.
The clubs in the League have all pledged to do their bit for wildlife, climbing the league table as they hand out leaflets, feature the campaign in matchday programmes and spread the word amongst fans.
Any clubs wishing to join the League should email info@britishhedgehogs.org.uk for details.
