Hedgehogs tend to start hibernating in November and come out around mid-March, however you may see hedgehogs through this period as they change nesting sites. Studies have shown that hedgehogs have undergone a drastic decline within Britain over the last two decades so it’s important that we take care of our prickly friends. Here are ways you can make your garden a haven for hedgehogs.
Hedgehog highways: Encourage hedgehogs to visit your garden by cutting a hole in your fence. A 12cm x 12cm hole would be perfect, you could also get together with your neighbours and all do the same so hedgehogs are able to roam freely through your gardens.
Midnight swim: Hedgehogs can swim but quickly become exhausted so a deep pond with steep sides is not great for hedgehogs to encounter. If you have a pond in your garden you could add logs to create a ladder for them, alternatively, you could create sloping sides so hedgehogs can easily get out.
Check then strim: May hedgehogs get injured and killed by strimmers so make sure you check the area before you start strimming. If you find a hedgehog very gently move it to a safe, secluded spot.
Hedgehog house: Making or adding a hedgehog house in your garden will ensure a hedgehog has a safe place to rest their legs and get some sleep, this will also encourage them to keep coming back! Have a look at our hedgehog houses in-store.
All you can eat: Hedgehogs tend to eat invertebrates, worms, slugs, snails and insects but it would help them out of you left food for them in your garden, check out our hedgehog crumble next time you are in-store. Don’t leave out milk and bread and they can dehydrate and kill hedgehogs.
Hibernating heap: During autumn you could collect all the fallen leaves in your garden a put them in a heap in the corner of our garden, this makes the perfect hibernation place for hedgehogs, it’s warm, dry and will provide food for small invertebrates such as slugs and beetles will also take shelter in there.
Burning Bonfire: If you build a bonfire make sure you check it before you light it, there may be a sleeping hedgehog underneath.
