SHIPLEY COLLEGE WINS NATIONAL COMPETITION PROTECTING WILDLIFE
Shipley College is celebrating after victory in ‘The Big Hog Friendly Litter Pick Challenge’ 2025.
Delivered by SOS UK, the competition encourages educational institutions across the UK to get involved in the protection of hedgehogs and various other wildlife.
This latest triumph means Shipley College has now topped the national colleges leaderboard two years on the bounce.
Running from 19th September to 30th November, 128 Shipley College students and staff did their bit by collecting an impressive 34 bags of litter from around their local community in Saltaire.
Sustainability & Facilities Coordinator, Natasha Wilkinson, proudly said: “We're delighted to win this accolade for the second year running!
“We're always keen to do our bit for Saltaire and real competitions get students involved with the local community outside of course learning. This sort of activity helps to develop a rounded skill set and understanding of society, shaping our young people as good citizens beyond their time at the College.
“Biodiversity initiatives like this one align with the UN Sustainable Development Goals we work towards – SDG15 in this case – and feature as a significant part of our wider Climate Action Plan. Another national award is huge and shows our leading sustainability practice among colleges in West Yorkshire."
Those involved in the challenge came from a wide range of provisions, including Esports and Foundation Learning, with every participant receiving their own digital certificate to accompany Shipley College’s overall winner recognition.
On top of this, the College will receive a brand-new Hedgehog House and bag of hedgehog food for campus – courtesy of The British Hedgehog Preservation Society.
Having first become a ‘Hedgehog Friendly Campus’ in 2024, Shipley College proceeded to grab its first win in the same year with 27 bags of litter collected by 80 volunteers – a 26% and 60% increase for 2025’s victory, respectively.