Gardeners are urged to include an extra task into their to-do list, which simply involves cutting a small hall on their fences for hedgehogs to have access into their outdoor spaces.
Now with spring and summer around the corner, and the temperatures rising, gardening tasks are piling up. But whilst we’re taking care of our beautiful garden spaces, you might start cutting a small hole in your fences – and you’re going to love its reason.
Hedgehogs are considered to be one of the UK’s favourite garden mammals, according to Woodland Trust. But sadly, the beloved animals have seen a drastic decline in population over the years.
As temperatures will change drastically in the upcoming months, MyBuilder.com has shared some tips for British households to follow to help hedgehogs survive, and it doesn’t require a lot of effort. Referred to as the ‘Hedgehog Hallway’, it will give them access to food and shelter, plus any protection from possible harm.
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John Lewis, a gardening expert, said: “Even if you only have a small garden or driveway area, there are improvements you can make to support hedgehogs.
A really important step to take is to make sure that the animals can access your garden from other areas, so cutting a small hedgehog hole in the bottom of fencing or hedging can be really beneficial to them.”
“Building a hedgehog house is also a great way to help provide shelter and protection – and can easily be done with a small amount of timber,” he added.
According to the National Biodiversity Network, the State of Britain’s Hedgehogs 2022 report revealed that hedgehogs have seen a decline of between 30% and 75% across different areas since 2000. This is due to the expansion of urban areas, as well as housing developments.
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Interestingly, a quarter of Brits have never seen a hedgehog, with 40% of people aged 18-34 expressing an interest in helping hedgehogs in their gardens.
For those wanting to turn their outdoor spaces into a safe place for these animals, following the commencement of Hedgehog Awareness Week on May 4, MyBuilder’s method of making a small hole will prevent them from dehydrating, increasing their chances of finding food and avoiding sunburn.
By doing this simple task that doesn’t add any extra work or commitment, gardeners will ensure that hedgehogs have a safe space to come to, creating a safety net.
It will also ensure that the number of hedgehogs in the country keeps increasing, adding to the UK wildlife numbers. Plus, they’re so adorable that you couldn’t resist wanting to take a picture when spotting these creatures.
