Walled garden Hedgehog

[RosyM]

I live in an old house where the back garden is surrounded by a high stone wall. It has 2 sheds in which are both raised above the ground with space underneath too small for a cat to get under. It has a wildlife pond which has sloping sides that the birds enjoy using for baths and another pond with fish in that is raised about 18inches above the ground with stones and flowers around the sides that the knewts and frogs use to climb out of. I have 2 very elderly cats. Would this sort of garden be of use to injured hedgehogs who are unable to forage far or would it be too restriciting?

[ron1863]

Hi Rosy and weelcome to the forum. Don't know too much about hedgehogs and what preys on them but you could give it a try and you could also use chickenwire to make a small enclosure. I'm sure someone out there will give you some sound advice.

[Jez]

Bear in mind hedgehogs are very good climbers!

Though if the hedgehogs are injured, then until they gain full strength I think the chances of them getting over a wall are slim?!

[RosyM]

The wall is an old stone one that is about 6 foot high, some of it has ivy growing up it and there are trees against it in places. They might climb that, but as I was thinking more about hedgehogs that are not able to be allowed to roam so freely due to injury, blindness etc.
I wonder though if the spaces under the sheds would be good for them to get under or more of a problem if you needed to get to the hedgehog. I suppose I could put mesh around them but the rather abundant population of frogs who spend a lot of time under there might not be too happy. Thinking about the frogs, who must have been in the garden for generations, I wonder if they would leave enough food for the hedgehogs as the only place you find slugs is in the house! The frogs must eat the rest. perhaps I should have a 'house hog'.....not really

[Jez]

I think really that if you need to keep close tabs on your littluns then allowing them under the shed isn't the best thing to do. Hows about like Ron said make some fencing out of chicken wire etc or buying/making a chicken coop for them instead providing you have room to do so, that way your beloved froggies can also keep hold of their sancutary?!?

[Kayleigh]

Hi Rosy,
You should contact a hedgehog rescue centre. They may have some in your area that need either short term or long term care.

Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital

[deer boy]

Originally Posted by RosyM

Thinking about the frogs, who must have been in the garden for generations, I wonder if they would leave enough food for the hedgehogs as the only place you find slugs is in the house!

The hedgehogs will eat the frogs

[Wild-Woman]

It's nice to be able to provide a sanctuary for hedgehogs to recover in if they are injured, but it must be short term until they are fit and well. They do need to roam freely to mix their genes.
Hope your rescue works out fine though, it's good to see folk giving nature a helping hand.

[galanthus]

We have an enclosed garden, a nice wildlife one on different levels. We had our hedgehog nearly 4 years ago from a rescue centre; he's completely blind. We feed him every night during autumn winter but only around twice a week during spring and summer. He has a kind of timeshare thing going on with my neighbour tho as he's found a way into her garden

Apparently they like to mate and so like to travel to find one, hence better to let them roam, however, if they're blind or mentally ill this isn't the case as they lose their mojo These are okay to keep in the garden. As for frogs, I kind of hope they're evading him as he can't see lol.