Top tips on making your garden hedgehog friendly

May 5, 2020

The hedgehog is one of Britain’s most popular wild animals.

Although widely loved, hedgehogs have had a hard time as of late. It’s been estimated that hedgehog numbers have plummeted by more than half since 2000.

With the loss of key habitat, such as dense hedges, hedgehogs are more frequently seen by the side of the road, than they are happily scratching around.

However, there’s lots of ways we can help hedgehogs right from home.

Hedgehogs have a reputation as being a gardeners best friend because of their diet of slugs and other insects. While a hedgehog should never been removed from their natural habitat, our gardens can be given over to hedgehogs.

Here’s a few tips on what you can do to create an inviting space for hedgehogs to rummage and root around in:

Build a shelter – old logs and bits of wood make for a perfect hedgehog home where they can hide from natural predators.
Avoid using slug pellets and other poisons – these should only be used as a last resort. Instead, try deterring unwanted bugs and insects by using alternatives, such as old coffee grounds that do an equally good job of deterring slugs.
Leave out food and fresh water – favourite of hedgehogs is tinned dog and cat food (not fish-based). This will help to supplement their natural diet but be careful not to overfeed if you have a hedgehog visitor.
Check before you strim or mow – if you’ve left the grass grow long, watch out for hedgehogs that may be hiding under the foliage, this is especially important later on in the year.
Hedgehog-proof your pond – you haven’t already, try placing bricks or rocks around a pond to deter wayward hedgehogs from accidentally slipping in.

As always, if you encounter an injured or sickly hedgehog, consult with the RSPCA before taking any action. They will be able to offer the best advice and best course of action.

Good luck with creating a hedgehog-friendly garden, be sure to share with us on social media any new arrivals.