Hedgehogs

[lstarr]

Hi,
I remember as a child see hedgehogs in the garden, crossing roads but no more. I would like to know how to make my garden an ideal place for hedgehogs to visit.
If you know how please tell me
Thank you.

[aeshna5]

Hedgehogs have undergone quite a decline, so less are being seen in many areas. The reasons are probably many including increased urbanisation, decking/concreting over gardens, removal of hedgerows, pesticides-particularly slug pellets, busy roads + possibly also increasing numbers of their predators- especially Badgers, but maybe Foxes too in suburban areas.

Most important thing is not to use any pesticides, having relatively wild, undisturbed areas in your garden, log piles- places where they can forage for invertebrates + sleep up during the day. Easy access into + out of your garden as yours will only be a small part of the territory.

[Dogghound]

Things like hedgehog boxes and other hibernaculum such as piles of leaves, logs are vital for hibernation. Supplimentary food such as tinned cat food is a good idea especially in Autumn when they need to increase fat reserves for hibernation, a water supply is important as well. As Aeshna says trying to encourage a part of your garden to go wild helps, low shrubby plants with a good understory is ideal it also provides food in the form of slugs, snails and amphibians.

[Malx]

Hi, Istarr. Anyone with an interest in hedgies will always be in good company here on WAB.
The above replies are spot on, and if you want a bit of further reading, there's these 2 sites for starters.

British Hedgehog Preservation Society

Hedgehog Web Facts - Hedgehog Breeding, Birth & Growth

Enjoy, and keep in touch!

[k4t3]

I inherited my hedgies, along with the property and my garden is somewhat wild compared with the neighbours neat and tidy patches....but there is an area at the back of my garden where a couple of neighbours throw all their garden rubbish over the wall to an undisturbed patch of council property, this is where I think they hide and hibernate! In the summer last year I counted around 8 individuals romping around my garden, and the addition of putting cat food out on a nightly basis definately improved my garden's gourmet hedgie rating!
I refuse to use any weedkillers/ slug pellets or anything in my garden and love to see the wildlife that visits me, just wish that other rabid gardeners saw it the same way..neat, tidy and weed free is not always the best way for the wildlife, and for me, I'd rather have the weeds and the wildlife than a sterile garden

[mbaldw]

In addition to the aforementioned, the topic is covered in some detail on thehedgehog.co.uk website.

Cheers,
Marc.

[dampflippers]

Also look at all your boundaries. Are there gaps under each fence? If not, you could cut a little off the bottom in places, or dig down a bit to make an access point.
Hedgehogs have quite a large nightly route, so they must be able to get into and out of gardens.
I think there is an increasing tendancy for people to make their gardens impenetrable.

You can put food out, but you would need to decide whether it was worthwhile if you don't thing you have hedgehogs yet.
Definitely put out a bowl of water though. I use plant pot saucers, and I can tell if hedgehogs have used them because I can see scratch marks.

Please don't tidy your garden up too much. My neighbour has a gardener who seems to have made it him mission to remove every bit of dead material including dead leaves under hedges etc. Luckily my garden makes up for this!

Watch out for hedgehog poos.

[Malx]

All what they said! Definitely make sure there's 1 easy way in to your garden, if not 10 of them!

The number one way to attract them is food though. Hedgies are usually hungry and always greedy, and tend to eat most of the same things we do. The same could be said of rats and other undesirables I know, but it's worth giving it all a try. In time your hedgie will synchronize your schedule with his, and will eat when you want him/her to - therefore you will know to put food out 3 minutes before he/she appears, and no rat will get a look in.

The basic feeding station is an upturned box with a 5-inch by 5-inch door which gives them some shelter and a sense of security, and tends to keep cats out if you're offering a gourmet platter!
There are a few designs for feeding stations on the web if you want them, but it doesn't need to be too elaborate. An upturned mushroom box will be better than nothing, certainly. In short - something a hedgehog can move around in easily, and a cat bowl or similar is ideal. Not a typical cereal bowl as they're high-sided and can be catapulted or can smash into sharp bits...

Here's another great BHPS page to look at: I WOULD LIKE A HEDGEHOG FOR MY G