How to Help Hedgehogs in British Gardens

Why hedgehogs need a helping hand

Hedgehogs are one of Britain’s best-loved mammals, but their numbers have fallen sharply in recent decades. Loss of hedgerows, busy roads and tidy gardens have all played a part. Yet our gardens can be part of the solution. A single garden may not seem like much, but joined-up gardens create vital habitat. Hedgehogs can travel around 1–2 km in a night, so a small gap in a fence can make all the difference.

They are nocturnal, so a hedgehog out in daylight may be unwell. If you see one that is thin, wobbly or covered in flies, contact a local wildlife rescue. Most gardens can be made safer with a few simple changes.

Open up a hedgehog highway

Fences, walls and solid gates block hedgehog movement. The answer is a hedgehog highway: a gap at ground level, about 13 cm by 13 cm (roughly the size of a CD case). This is large enough for a hedgehog to pass through but small enough to discourage most cats and dogs.

Cut a notch in the bottom of a fence panel, lift a gravel board, or leave out a brick at the base of a wall. If you are planning a new fence, leave a gap from the start, or choose a hedge instead.

• Keep the gap clear of debris and overgrown grass.
• Encourage neighbours to do the same, linking gardens into a network.
• Check that the gap is at ground level, not raised above it.

A linked network lets hedgehogs move safely between feeding areas, shelter and mates.

Water: shallow and safe

Hedgehogs get thirsty, especially in hot, dry weather. A shallow dish of fresh water at ground level is one of the simplest gifts you can offer. Never give milk — hedgehogs are lactose intolerant, and milk can cause serious diarrhoea.

Ponds need care too. Hedgehogs can swim, but they can drown if they cannot climb out. Add a gentle ramp of stones or wood, or create a shallow beach area at one edge.

• Use a shallow saucer or bowl, no more than 2–3 cm deep.
• Place a few stones inside so a hedgehog can climb out if it falls in.
• Check and refill daily, especially in summer.
• Cover or fence off steep-sided water butts and drains.

If you find a hedgehog in a pond, lift it out gently, place it in a box with a towel, and keep it warm and quiet. Contact a wildlife rescue if it seems unwell.

Safe places to sleep and hibernate

Hedgehogs need somewhere dry, sheltered and undisturbed. They may hibernate from November to March, although mild winters can wake them. During the rest of the year they make day nests in long grass, under hedges, in log piles and beneath sheds or decking.

A wild corner is perfect: long grass, fallen leaves, logs and a little untidiness. A hedgehog house can help, but placement matters. Put it on firm ground in a quiet spot, with the entrance facing away from the prevailing wind, and cover it with dry leaves.

• Leave a wild corner with long grass, logs and fallen leaves.
• Build a log pile or leaf mound in a quiet spot.
• Avoid turning compost heaps between October and April, as hedgehogs often nest there.
• If you uncover a hibernating hedgehog, cover it back gently and leave the area alone.

Do not move a hibernating hedgehog unless it is in immediate danger.

Food, slugs and the dangers of pellets

Hedgehogs eat beetles, caterpillars, earthworms, slugs and other invertebrates. A wildlife-friendly garden with leaf litter and log piles will support many of these creatures naturally. You can supplement their diet with meaty cat or dog food — not fish or gravy — and specialist hedgehog biscuits. Always provide fresh water.

Avoid slug pellets and other pesticides. They can kill hedgehogs directly, and they also reduce the natural prey hedgehogs rely on. Instead, use nematodes, copper barriers or hand-picking. Leave some slugs for the hedgehogs; they are part of the diet.

• Never use slug pellets or chemical insecticides in a hedgehog-friendly garden.
• Leave leaf litter and log piles to boost beetles and other natural prey.
• If feeding, offer meaty cat or dog food and fresh water; never bread or milk.

Be careful with weedkillers and lawn treatments too. A chemical-free garden is better for hedgehogs, birds, frogs and bees alike.

Mowing, strimming and bonfire checks

Long grass is excellent habitat, but it is also where hedgehogs sleep during the day. Before mowing, strimming or using a hedge trimmer near the ground, walk the area and check carefully. If you must strim long grass, start from the centre of the patch and work outwards, so any wildlife has a chance to escape. Keep the cutting head above ground level.

Bonfires are another hidden hazard. A pile of wood and leaves is an ideal hibernation site, and hedgehogs may move in within days. Before lighting, move the entire pile to a new spot, or rebuild it elsewhere. Check underneath with a torch and gloved hands.

• Check long grass before mowing, strimming or trimming near the ground.
• Strim from the centre outwards, never inwards.
• Leave some areas unmown, especially at the base of hedges and fences.
• Move and check bonfire piles before lighting.

If you find an injured hedgehog, place it in a box lined with a towel, keep it warm and quiet, and contact a local wildlife rescue. With a few thoughtful changes, your garden can become a genuine sanctuary for one of our most charming native mammals.