Top tips to help hedgehogs
Hedgehogs numbers have been declining in Britain but gardens and green spaces in and around urban areas can offer an important habitat for our hedgehog population.
According to the Hedgehog Street campaign, the top tips to make your garden hedgehog-friendly are:
Link your garden with Hedgehog Highways
A hedgehog can easily cover a mile a night and the greater number of gardens accessible to them the better. Making sure there are ways into and between gardens can have a big impact - a 13cm (5 inch) hole is all it takes!
Be sure to map your hedgehog hole if you're in Rudloe, Box, Corsham or surrounding areas!
Make your pond safe with a ramp
Hedgehogs are great swimmers, but it's important to make sure there's a way for them (and other animals) to be able to climb out!
Create a wild corner
Log and leaf piles, compost heaps, wild corners and wildflower patches are all excellent options for your outside space. They provide safe areas during the daytime or for hibernating over winter and they also attract insects that can be a food source.
Deal with netting and litter
Remove anything harmful that hedgehogs can get stuck in or ingest.
Put out food and water
A shallow dish of fresh water (not milk) and supplemental food - such as hedgehog/kitten biscuits or wet dog/cat food - can really help, especially during hot or dry weather and in the lead up to hibernation. Be sure to clean any dishes regularly.
Stop using harmful chemicals
Avoid slug pellets, pesticides and poisons. Not only can hedgehogs eat them by mistake, but anything they eat that has come into contact with them can pose a threat as well.
Check before strimming
If you do strim areas of your garden, make sure you check there's nothing lying low beforehand.
Be careful with bonfires
Check any bonfires for sheltering hedgehogs. It's best to only build bonfires on the day of burning (or move and rebuild them on the day), and light from one corner to ensure anything can escape.
Make a home for hedgehogs
A great nesting option for hedgehogs is by creating a log pile or compost heap. Alternatively you can make or buy a man-made hedgehog house.
Pledge to create a hedgehog hole
Do you want to be part of a local hedgehog highway network? If you're in Rudloe, Corsham or the surrounding areas you can add the hole you have created to our map.
Questions?
Take a look at the Frequently Asked Questions page for common queries.