Hedgehogs are one of Britain’s most beloved wild visitors, yet their numbers have fallen dramatically over the past few decades. But there’s a simple way to help them thrive in your garden
It’s the tiniest alteration you could make to your garden but it could have a massive impact on the wildlife that passes through.
If you’ve ever spotted a hedgehog trundling across your lawn under the cover of darkness, count yourself lucky. These shy, night-time scavengers are among Britain’s most cherished wild visitors, yet their population has plummeted in recent years.
Rebecca Machin, Scientific and Policy Officer at the RSPCA, suggests with just a few minor tweaks, gardens can easily become “hedgehog havens”. “Hedgehogs can travel around three kilometres every night,” she reveals.
“By creating small openings in fences or digging shallow tunnels beneath garden boundaries, we can assist them in moving safely between areas – and this movement is crucial for their survival.”
The RSPCA advises that by creating a “hedgehog highway” (a tiny 13 x 13cm gap at the base of a fence), your garden can become an essential part of their nightly journey.
It’s barely bigger than a CD case, small enough to keep pets in, but large enough for a hedgehog to comfortably squeeze through, reports the Express.
Create several of these gateways between neighbouring gardens, and suddenly an entire street becomes accessible territory.
With their freedom to roam restored, hedgehogs can scavenge across a network of gardens, finding enough beetles, worms and caterpillars to sustain them through their winter sleep.
Brick walls can have a single brick removed near the base, creating a small passage. If your garden backs onto an alley or hedge, ensure there’s a tiny gap beneath the greenery.
This minor modification also benefits other species. Frogs, toads and small mammals like voles and shrews utilise these routes to travel between feeding and nesting areas.
Some homeowners worry over security or unwanted pests, but the risks are minimal. The hole is too small for foxes or dogs to squeeze through, and hedgehogs don’t burrow or cause property damage.
Instead, you’ll likely gain a few extra nocturnal visitors – small, round, and excellent at munching on the garden pests that threaten your plants.
However, according to the RSPCA, crafting a hedgehog-friendly garden extends beyond the fence. Once you’ve established a safe passage, you can make your outdoor space even more welcoming with a few straightforward adjustments.
Firstly, provide a consistent source of food and water – by placing the food in a shallow dish, alongside a bowl of fresh water. Second, consider shelter – as hedgehogs require secure places to rest during the day and to hibernate throughout the winter months.
It’s also crucial to make your garden safer for the visitors you’re trying to attract. Many hedgehogs are injured or killed each year by hidden dangers such as uncovered drains, garden netting and slug pellets.
The RSPCA has issued a warning to check compost heaps and bonfires before lighting them, as they are often chosen by hedgehogs for nesting. “Always thoroughly disturb bonfires immediately before you light them,” the animal welfare charity advises.
“Moving the whole bonfire by hand before setting it alight is the best way to ensure that hedgehogs and other wildlife aren’t sleeping inside.”