Are you looking for ways to make your garden more inviting to hedgehogs? You’re not alone!
Hedgehogs are an important part of our ecosystem, but their numbers sadly declining. As more and more of Hedgehogs’ natural habitats are destroyed, it is up to those of us with gardens and outside spaces to do our bit to reverse the decline in the hedgehog population.
Creating a hedgehog-friendly garden is the perfect way to provide shelter and food and to help our prickly little friends live and thrive.
Why are hedgehogs important to our ecosystem?
Hedgehogs play an important role in the environment, as they feed on slugs and worms, keeping the garden’s ecosystem in balance.
But it’s not just about hedgehogs; a hedgehog-friendly garden is also great for other wildlife including birds and amphibians.
After our recent post 5 easy ways to make your garden wildlife-friendly this winter, readers asked for a dedicated guide to welcoming hedgehogs.
So, here are some tips to help you make your garden hedgehog friendly:
Provide shelter
Hedgehogs need somewhere safe and dry to hide away during the day and sleep at night. To provide them with shelter, create a pile of logs, leaves, and other plant material in a quiet corner of the garden. This will give them a place to hide and keep them warm in the winter months.
Make sure to check the pile for hedgehogs before diving in to clear it up in the spring.
Build a Hedgehog House
Why not also build a hedgehog house for the little critters? This is a brilliant activity to get children involved with, too. Not only will they will love looking out for hedgehogs in the garden but it teaches important lessons about the environment we are a part of.
Make sure your hedgehog house is well-insulated and made of wood or another sturdy, eco-friendly material. It’s the perfect opportunity to repurpose materials.
Place your hedgehog home in a quiet corner of the garden and make sure there’s a gap at the bottom for the hedgehogs to get in and out.
Create a Hedgehog Corridor
It’s amazing to think that little Hedgehogs can travel up to two miles in search of food and shelter. Being stuck in one garden without access to food can be a death sentence. So it’s important to create a hedgehog corridor that connects your garden with other gardens in the area. This can be done by leaving gaps under your garden fence, or by creating a pathway to connect your garden with neighbouring gardens.
Another important tip: if you have a pond, make sure you provide a ramp so any hedgehog who accidentally falls in has a means of escape.
Provide food and water
Like humans, in addition to shelter, hedgehogs need food and water to survive. You can help by leaving out suitable food. The best supplementary food for hedgehogs is dry kitten food, or wet meat-based cat or dog food. You can also leave a shallow dish of fresh water – remember to change it regularly, though. For more information, check out the helpful advice from Hedgehog Street.
Hedgehogs love mealworms, so providing these can be a way of attracting more hedgehogs into your garden.
Keep pesticides and chemicals away
Pesticides and other chemical products can be toxic for hedgehogs, so it’s important to avoid using them.
Slug pellets in particular kill hedgehogs. Not only may the hedgehogs eat the slug pellets themselves, but they will also eat the poisoned snails and slugs. In fact, the outdoor use of metaldehyde slug pellets has been banned since April 2022, and it is also illegal to store sell or supply metaldehyde slug pellets for outdoor use in the UK.
Regular readers will know that at Genesis Gardens we place the environment and wildlife at the centre of all our garden design and maintenance. Our advice is always to avoid pesticides and chemicals as much as possible and to instead opt for natural solutions such as planting native flowers or planting a butterfly garden to attract natural predators that will control pests.
What are the signs that a Hedgehog needs help?
If you see a hedgehog in your garden, it is possible that it is injured or sick and needs help. To be sure, look for signs such as being very thin, having an unusual gait or an obviously injured limb. If things seem amiss, try and approach the hedgehog and check for any visible signs of infection or injury.
If you spot an injured or ill hedgehog, contact your local hedgehog recur or wildlife centre straight away. They will be able to give you advice on what to do, as well as offer help if the hedgehog needs medical attention. They will also give advice on how to move an injured hedgehog if this is needed.
Get started on your hedgehog-friendly garden today
Creating a hedgehog-friendly garden is a great way to provide a safe and welcoming environment for these beloved creatures. With a few simple steps, you can make your garden a haven for hedgehogs and other wildlife. So, why not get started today?
If you need help with any aspect of your garden in North Wales, including creating a hedgehog-friendly garden, our team of dedicated experts are on hand, just give us a call.