Be a Hedgehog Hero!
Hedgehogs are remarkable travelers, covering up to 2 kilometers a night during the summer months. To support their natural behaviours, consider creating a "wildlife highway" between your garden and your neighbors'. A simple gap in the garden hedge, fence, or wall allows hedgehogs to roam freely in search of food and mates, reducing the risk of road accidents. Become a Hedgehog hero with our Top Tips!
Wild Zones: Leave sections of your garden wild with long meadow grass, covered bushy areas, and log piles with gaps underneath for nesting. Large leaf piles offer both a food source and insulation in colder weather.
Fresh Water Access: Ensure access to shallow bowls of fresh water to keep hedgehogs hydrated. Be cautious of bowl depth to prevent smaller hedgehogs from falling in.
Pond Considerations: Ponds can be beneficial, providing a food source by attracting frogs. Include stones and gently sloping sides for hedgehogs to escape safely.
Winter Hibernation: Help hedgehogs prepare for winter by providing suitable hibernation habitats. Thorny, dense bushes like bramble hedges and deciduous trees create ideal conditions for hibernaculums.
Winter Disturbance: Avoid disturbing hibernating hedgehogs during winter. If disturbed, do not return them unless fully awake, as recreating a nest takes time and energy.
Combatting Lack of Natural Food:
The use of pesticides and weedkillers poses a significant threat to hedgehogs, affecting their natural food sources. Create a hedgehog feeding station using an inverted plastic storage box with a small entrance to keep out larger animals. Offer cat food but keep the water outside to prevent contamination.
Feeding Station Tips:
Have multiple Stations if multiple hedgehogs visit, by setting up several feeding stations to prevent conflicts over food.
Protection Measures: Secure stations with heavy bricks to prevent tipping and keep out larger animals.
Observation: Use a clear box to observe hedgehogs without disturbance.
By incorporating these practices, you can be a Hedgehog Hero by contributing to the well-being and conservation of these unique creatures in your local environment.
Wild Zones: Leave sections of your garden wild with long meadow grass, covered bushy areas, and log piles with gaps underneath for nesting. Large leaf piles offer both a food source and insulation in colder weather.
Fresh Water Access: Ensure access to shallow bowls of fresh water to keep hedgehogs hydrated. Be cautious of bowl depth to prevent smaller hedgehogs from falling in.
Pond Considerations: Ponds can be beneficial, providing a food source by attracting frogs. Include stones and gently sloping sides for hedgehogs to escape safely.
Winter Hibernation: Help hedgehogs prepare for winter by providing suitable hibernation habitats. Thorny, dense bushes like bramble hedges and deciduous trees create ideal conditions for hibernaculums.
Winter Disturbance: Avoid disturbing hibernating hedgehogs during winter. If disturbed, do not return them unless fully awake, as recreating a nest takes time and energy.
Combatting Lack of Natural Food:
The use of pesticides and weedkillers poses a significant threat to hedgehogs, affecting their natural food sources. Create a hedgehog feeding station using an inverted plastic storage box with a small entrance to keep out larger animals. Offer cat food but keep the water outside to prevent contamination.
Feeding Station Tips:
Have multiple Stations if multiple hedgehogs visit, by setting up several feeding stations to prevent conflicts over food.
Protection Measures: Secure stations with heavy bricks to prevent tipping and keep out larger animals.
Observation: Use a clear box to observe hedgehogs without disturbance.
By incorporating these practices, you can be a Hedgehog Hero by contributing to the well-being and conservation of these unique creatures in your local environment.
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