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Hedgehogs are often spotted in the UK’s gardens, parks, and countryside. We had one that lived in our neighbour’s garden for years as she fed them, and it was always so lovely when we occasionally got to spot it.
Unfortunately, our neighbour is no longer with us, and her house is being renovated, including the garden, which means the poor little hog has been displaced, and we don’t see her anymore.
It’s not just our neighbourly hedgehog friend that has been moved on, but a vast proportion of the UK’s population has also faced a significant decline in numbers, with nearly one-third of the national hedgehog population lost since the early 2000s due to habitat loss in rural areas.
We must take action to safeguard these beloved animals, and one impactful way to contribute is by transforming our gardens into havens catering to hedgehogs’ wants and needs.
As we are heading into spring, wildlife experts and lovers, Green Feathers have put together this handy guide on how to prepare your garden for hedgehog season so we can help to save them and bring back the population.
Hedgehog season (or mating season) is the most crucial time for hedgehogs. It begins in April and can last all the way to September, although peak breeding months are in May and June.
Usually, a female will be met by seven hoglets, who will nest all together in a layer of leaves and grass until the hoglets leave the nest four to five weeks after being born. Throughout this season and especially up until this point, try to keep leafy and unkept areas of your garden as undisturbed as possible.
The first step to creating a hedgehog-friendly garden this Spring is to embrace the open road by creating a hedgehog highway. They are nomadic creatures and can roam up to two miles every night. However, one reason their numbers are declining is due to the reduction in access they have to land.
By creating a ‘hedgehog highway’ or a small gap in your fencing to allow them to pass through, your hedgehog can roam far and wide. This gap should be around 13 square centimetres — perfect for hedgehogs but not for the larger mammals you want to keep out!
Despite their innocent faces, hedgehogs are carnivorous animals and roam at night in search of small insects such as beetles, worms, slugs, earwigs, and millipedes. Sometimes, they’ll even eat baby birds, frogs, snakes, bird’s eggs – and for dessert – garden fruit.
The best way to bring insects into your garden is by keeping your garden healthy and bio-diverse by letting it grow wild. To do this, you can:
Before the start of the season, do the rounds and rid your garden of any potential hedgehog hazards. Check for the following potential hazards:
Planting hedges can be a great alternative to fencing. Not only do they provide more shade and absorb noise and dust, but they also provide better shelter to all forms of garden wildlife. They can promote better soil, attract insects, and usually allow leaves to gather at their sides, providing a great nestling spot.
Another great way to provide a cosy home for these animals is to place a wooden hedgehog house in the garden. They provide safe, robust, and secure shelter where they can hunker down for winter or get ready for mating season.
Once you have prepared your garden for hedgehog season, remember a little bit of maintenance goes a long way. Keep pruning and gardening to a minimum, and keep the lawnmower and strimmer locked away in the garden shed. Try to disturb them as little as possible by doing your bit to keep nature thriving.
To give a helping hand here and there, you can put out small bowls of water for easy drinking access and small portions of meaty cat or dog food in the evening to make sure they’re well-fed and hydrated. Better yet, set up a wooden hedgehog feeding station which keeps the food safe and hidden from other animals – perfect for a night in and a meal for one!
Welcome to Birds and Lilies! I'm Lou: mother, blogger and freelance writer. This is my lifestyle blog, where I talk about motherhood, infertility and IVF, beauty, my love for food and wine, as well as my thoughts about stuff, and our real-life and travel adventures.
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