Helping hedgehogs
Sadly the British Hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) was labelled as ‘vulnerable to extinction’ on the Red List for British Mammals in 2020 meaning now more than ever it is important that we take steps to support the declining population. Loss of habitat, lack of food, extreme weather conditions, increased predation and busy roads have all contributed to the dramatic reduction in numbers but there are ways in which we can all help to preserve the hedgehog.
The simple steps below can help make a significant difference to the hedgehogs in your area.
We recommend that you visit Hedgehog Street which is run by the People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) for a more comprehensive list of ways in which you can support hedgehogs in your garden.
Hedgehogs in need of rescue
Found a hedgehog?
Hedgehog FAQs
Hedgehog hospital
Install hedgehog highways
Hedgehogs are known to travel as far as 2 miles a night while foraging. Ensure your garden is accessible for hedgehogs by installing hedgehog highways and encourage others in your neighbourhood to do the same to ‘link’ supportive environments.
This beautifully crafted video is a powerful call to us all to help create Britain’s largest hedgehog reserve and is well worth a watch.
Provide food and water
Support feed with cat biscuits or good quality hedgehog food. We recommend Brinvale Hedgehog food as a good quality, local provider from near Melton Mowbray.
Ideally provide several feeding areas to avoid the risk of conflict occurring over food. Hedgehogs are not territorial and generally do not fight each other however, when food is in scarce supply confrontations can occur.
Provide water in shallow dishes and keep these topped up throughout the year. This simple action will not only support any visiting hedgehogs but will also provide a lifeline to many other species that visit your garden.
Create a supportive habitat
Encourage invertebrates into your garden by creating log piles, leaving wild areas and resisting the urge to over tidy. A pile of leaves will not only provide nesting material but will also encourage invertebrates and provide a natural food source.
Ponds are a great way to encourage a range of wildlife into your garden and as long as you install a ramp or sloping exit it will be good for your local hedgehog population too.
Hedgehog houses
Buying or building your own hedgehog house is a great way to encourage hogs into your garden. They can use them for sleeping, nesting and hibernating. Make sure you position your hog house in a quiet, undisturbed corner of the garden.
We do not endorse any particular make or model of hedgehog house but our preference is for houses that do not have a solid floor but can be placed directly onto an area of soil. We have found that hedgehogs like to be able to dig into the earth under a house to provide better thermal insulation when nesting.
Garden hazards
‘Think Hedgehog’ when you garden. Every year hedgehogs are injured and killed by gardeners who could have prevented these deaths if they had stopped to ‘think hedgehog’ first. You can avoid such tragedies by:
- ࠀChecking carefully before using a strimmer
- ࠀRelocating and checking bonfires before burning
- ࠀChecking for hedgehogs before digging into or moving piles of leaves or compost material
- ࠀChecking before disturbing tarpaulin or removing piles of ‘rubbish’ that may have been providing shelter
- ࠀRemoving and resiting netting so it is off the ground and unlikely to cause entrapment and injury. If you have football or cricket nets roll these up when not in use as this simple action will save lives
- ࠀMaking ponds safe for all wildlife by installing an escape ramp or ensuring a gentle slope is included in the design
Avoid using chemicals
Make a conscious effort to avoid using chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides when you garden. Metaldehyde Slug pellets were banned in the UK in April 2022 as these have a devastating impact on wildlife and pets. You can find out more about natural ways to deal with slugs here
If you’d like to find out more about the state of British Hedgehogs we recommend you read the full report published jointly by the People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) and British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS).
