Breaking barriers for hedgehogs in Sheffield, UK: The latest findings from habitat connectivity analysis

The Western European hedgehog, a flagship species within the UK's Biodiversity Action Plan, has experienced long-term population decline in Britain. Although it is widespread across urban and rural landscapes, its distribution and movement pathways remain poorly understood due to inconsistent evidence, limiting effective conservation and spatial planning. In particular, existing studies often identify broad drivers of fragmentation but do not pinpoint where connectivity gaps occur and where interventions could be most effective. To support emerging needs in biodiversity-inclusive spatial planning with actionable connectivity evidence, we integrate field observations with high-resolution land-use data and circuit theory modelling to assess hedgehog habitat connectivity across Sheffield, UK. We delineate core habitat patches, parameterise a land-use-based resistance surface, and use Circuitscape to map current flow and identify movement corridors, pinch points, and barrier hotspots that constrain movement across the urban landscape. Results show pronounced spatial heterogeneity in connectivity, with high-current corridors concentrated in key green corridors and recurring pinch points associated with major transport infrastructure, particularly around Attercliffe and several road and rail crossings in Sheffield. These locations represent priority intervention zones where relatively local measures could yield disproportionate connectivity gains. We translate the modelling outputs into a planning-oriented intervention logic that links barrier types to targeted actions (e.g., crossing enhancements, verge management, and habitat patch reinforcement), providing a transferable workflow for diagnosing connectivity gaps and prioritising urban greening investments. Our findings demonstrate how integrated field evidence and circuit-based modelling can inform implementable strategies to safeguard hedgehog movement pathways in urban landscapes.