To celebrate Ipswich’s place as a national ‘hedgehog hotspot’ a giant mural has been created in honour of the much-loved animals.

Ipswich Star: ATM Street Art has created a hedgehog mural to mark hedgehog awareness week.L-R Ali North,ATM,Kerry Stranix. Picture:SARAH LUCY BROWNATM Street Art has created a hedgehog mural to mark hedgehog awareness week.L-R Ali North,ATM,Kerry Stranix. Picture:SARAH LUCY BROWN

Suffolk Wildlife Trust commissioned street artist ATM to paint the massive artwork on a wall at the Swan pub in King Street in Ipswich.

Last year the Trust discovered the town, with its rich networks of parks and plenty of green spaces, had become a haven for hedgehogs so decided to employ a special hedgehog officer, Ali North, to improve numbers and raise the animal’s profile.

The Trust soon secured funding and, with the support of the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, aim to make Ipswich the most hedgehog friendly town in the UK.

In addition to the giant mural, Ali is hosting a special nighttime ‘safari’ on Friday in Holywells Park.

Ipswich Star: ATM Street Art has created a hedgehog mural to mark hedgehog awareness week.L-R Ali North,ATM,Kerry Stranix. Picture:SARAH LUCY BROWNATM Street Art has created a hedgehog mural to mark hedgehog awareness week.L-R Ali North,ATM,Kerry Stranix. Picture:SARAH LUCY BROWN

From 8.15pm to 10pm those who attend will get the chance to seek out the park’s nocturnal life using thermal imaging and night vision technology.