Hedgehogs are a quintessential part of British wildlife and can be found across England and Wales both in the countryside and urban areas. But they’re also one of the most threatened species due to habit loss and lack of food; in 2020 they were put on IUCN Red List as vulnerable to extinction in Great Britain, so ensuring they have hedgehog friendly environments and learning more about how to protect this species is vital.
What can we do to make our world more hedgehog friendly?
Hedgehog Highways
Hedgehog Highways are a way for hedgehogs to access more of the environment safely; they’re 13 x 13 cm square gaps placed at the bottom of fences and walls which allow hedgehogs to get in and out easily. You can even log hedgehog highways at https://bighedgehogmap.org/
Cover those holes!
Uncovered drains or holes in your garden can be dangerous obstacles for a hedgehog; keep them covered to avoid hedgehogs falling in or make sure to check them each day in case there’s a trapped hedgehog that needs your help!
Pick up that litter!
It might not be as relevant to your home (although on bin days, litter can get blown into gardens so it’s important to do a quick check to ensure there’s nothing hedgehogs could ingest or get tangled in) but if you see areas of litter out in public spaces, consider contacting the local authority or land agency to see if they can remove it to avoid the danger to wildlife; or, perhaps you could spend some time litter picking in parks or other wildlife rich areas (just make sure it’s public land!)
Check for stowaways
Hedgehogs could be hidden in your grass or hedges, or nesting in the compost heap so it’s important to check before mowing, strimming or using any sharp instruments that there are no hedgehog friends hiding in your path!
Pond safety ramps
If you have a pond in your garden, it can be a hazard for our hedgehog friends as they may not be able to get out if they end up in the water. You can combat this by placing some rocks near the edge to scramble onto or even a sloped edge or ramp.
Build a shelter
You can make a hedgehog shelter using log piles or leaf piles or even a wild corner which also attracts food for the hedgehogs. Compost heaps also make a good nest for hedgehogs so if you have one in your garden, you might have a few hedgehogs in there already; just make sure to check log and leaf piles and compost heaps for sleeping hedgehogs before moving them!
Hydration station
Providing water for wildlife, especially during the summer and hotter weather, can go a long way to contributing to their overall wellbeing. Shallow bowls are best, situated in areas of your garden hedgehogs can get to, ideally out of direct sunlight; you could add some small stones to the bowls for insects to drink from too!
Say no to pesticides
Pesticides and things like slug pellets can be poisonous to hedgehogs so if you’re looking to make your garden a hedgehog paradise, it would be best to skip the pesticides and use some natural alternatives instead.
Want to know more?
If you want to find out more about how we can help protect and support the hedgehog population this Hedgehog Awareness Week, you can find lots of information and resources at BHPS, RSPCA, Hedgehog Street and the Wildlife Trust.