5 Ways To Create A Hedgehog-Friendly Garden

Hedgehogs are a quintessential part of British wildlife yet their populations have been dwindling over time due to habitat loss and changes in wildlife which has impacted their diets. However, it appears there is a brighter future for our popular garden visitor, with a 2% increase in hedgehog sightings in recent months!

With this increase in sightings, it’s important to make sure our gardens are hedgehog-ready, creating a space for them to thrive while helping to maintain the balance of your garden’s ecosystem.

With hedgehogs coming out of hibernation in March and April now is the perfect time for action and so the wildlife experts from Pet Range have shared five simple yet effective ways to transform your garden into a hedgehog-friendly haven, please see below:

1. Let them in with a hedgehog highway

When hedgehogs face barriers to their movement, they may find it harder to access food and shelter. A good way to mitigate this is to create what’s known as a “hedgehog highway”, which allows these creatures to easily navigate urban and suburban landscapes. A hedgehog highway comprises of a series of small openings or tunnels in fences that allow hedgehogs to roam freely between gardens. By creating these passageways, you're essentially opening up your garden to the wider ecosystem, enabling hedgehogs to explore and forage without hindrance.

To allow the animals to travel through your garden, simply cut a hole in the bottom of your fence. The hole doesn’t have to be big at all — a 13cm by 13cm size gap is ideal as this gives hedgehogs ample space to pass through while keeping your pets in (or your neighbour’s pets out!). If you want to go a step further, you can even install a purpose-built hedgehog tunnel for easy access. And to make sure the hedgehogs have as much space as possible, try to get the neighbours involved to extend the hedgehog highway even further. Of course, always make sure to ask your neighbours for permission before cutting a hole if you share a fence, even if it is legally yours.

2. Leave food out

In the wild, hedgehogs are omnivores, feasting on a diet of insects, slugs, worms, and even small vertebrates. However, urbanisation and changes in garden wildlife have led to a decline in natural food sources for hedgehogs, making it challenging for them to find sustenance. The good news is that as a responsible garden owner, you can easily lend a helping hand by leaving out suitable food and water for these prickly visitors.

Specialised hedgehog food, available from some pet food retailers, is an excellent choice for providing hedgehogs with a nutritious meal. Alternatively, if you’re a pet owner you can also offer them some of your pet’s wet meat-based cat or dog food, as well as dry cat food. Remember to place food and water in shallow dishes and avoid leaving out milk, which contrary to popular belief can be harmful to hedgehogs as they lactose intolerant (Hedgehog Street). The best time to leave food out is around dusk, as this is the time they usually start searching for food.

3. Create a wild space

While many of us enjoy having a perfectly manicured garden, hedgehogs are quite the opposite. These animals prefer things more natural, thriving in wild, untamed areas where they can forage for food and find shelter. By incorporating wild spaces into your garden design, you can create a haven for hedgehogs. Plus, an untamed garden area can have benefits for even more animals, such as frogs who thrive in the long grass and bees who get essential nutrients from wildflowers.

You don’t need to let your garden become overrun if you prefer a tidier look, and simply dedicating one small wild corner will be enough to let wildlife thrive. Let the grass grow longer, allow plants to grow naturally, and avoid using pesticides and herbicides that can harm hedgehogs and their prey. By letting nature take its course, you'll create a vibrant ecosystem where hedgehogs can thrive alongside other wildlife.

4. Create a hedgehog home

When they aren’t out foraging for food, hedgehogs need a cosy place to call home. Building or buying a hedgehog house is a simple yet effective way to provide these creatures with the shelter they need to survive. And the good news is that making your own home for these animals is relatively straightforward.

You can easily make a hedgehog house using a wooden box filled with dry leaves, straw, or shredded newspaper. Position it in a quiet, sheltered spot, preferably hidden beneath foliage or bushes, and ensure that the entrance is wide enough for a hedgehog to squeeze through but not large enough for predators to enter. By providing hedgehogs with a safe and snug home, you're giving them the best chance of thriving in your garden.

5. Keep them safe

You may think that your garden is a safer space for hedgehogs than the wild, but there are actually a number of potential hazards to be aware of. A few risky areas that can easily be made safer include:

Drains: It’s easy for hedgehogs to get stuck in drains as they aren’t the best climbers. You can easily fix this issue by covering any uncovered drains with a mesh guard.
Ponds: While hedgehogs can swim, they may struggle to get out of a particularly steep pond. Simply invest in a small ramp to mitigate this risk.
Leaf piles: Hedgehogs often hide in leaf piles for shelter and warmth. If you plan on making a bonfire with a leaf pile, it’s best to gather the leaves just before you start the bonfire so animals don’t have time to sneak in. You should always check for wildlife just before you start your bonfire to ensure no creatures have made their way into the pile.
Long grass and hedges: When doing the gardening work, make sure there aren’t any hedgehogs hiding in long grass or hedges before using equipment like strimmers and lawnmowers.

If you have dogs, you should also ensure that they stay away from hedgehogs to keep both animals safe. The good news is that as hedgehogs are nocturnal, your pet likely won’t see them during the day. If you take your dog out in the garden at night, consider keeping them on a lead if they are particularly inquisitive, or take them out in your front garden, instead.

If you do put food out for your hedgehogs, leave it in an area of your garden where your dog doesn’t usually go, such as a small corner of the garden they might find difficult to get into. Fortunately for cat owners, felines rarely show any interest in hedgehogs so your pet will likely stay away and not cause any trouble.

Lisa Melvin, Head of Marketing at Pet Range said:
“When it comes to helping hedgehogs thrive in our gardens, even the smallest actions can make a big difference. Something as simple as leaving a corner of your garden untouched and letting it run a bit wild can be beneficial, giving the animals not just somewhere to shelter, but a good environment for their prey, allowing them to stick to their natural diet.

“That being said, there are plenty of ways for us humans to supplement hedgehog’s diets. Food made specifically for hedgehogs gives them all the nutrients they need to thrive, but leftover meat-based cat or dog food can provide them with the sustenance they need too.”