Why Your Suburban Garden Matters

Hedgehogs are one of Britain’s best-loved garden visitors, but their numbers have fallen sharply in recent decades. In towns and suburbs, gardens have become a vital patchwork of habitat. A single garden may seem small, yet when several are linked together they can offer miles of safe foraging ground. Hedgehogs can roam up to 2km in a night, so a quiet street with connected gardens can support a surprising amount of wildlife.

These gentle nocturnal creatures are shy, so you may never see one directly. Instead, look for small dark droppings, snuffling sounds after dusk, or a trail through long grass. Encouraging them is mostly about giving them three things: safe routes, fresh water, and places to rest. None of it requires a large garden or expensive equipment.

Create a Hedgehog Highway

Solid fences and walls are one of the biggest barriers for hedgehogs. A simple gap at ground level can turn a row of separate gardens into a connected route. The ideal size is about 13cm by 13cm — roughly the size of a CD case. Cut it at the base of a fence panel, lift a gravel board slightly, or leave a space under a gate. Hedgehogs are excellent climbers and swimmers, but a clear ground-level gap is far safer.

• Cut a 13cm square hole at the bottom of each fence panel, away from roads and busy driveways.
• Lift one gravel board by a few centimetres and check it is not blocking a nest or burrow.
• Keep the gap free of leaves, stones and cobwebs so it stays easy to use.
• Ask neighbours to do the same, creating a continuous “hedgehog highway” along the street.

Natural boundaries work well too. A hedge with a small gap at the base is ideal, as hedgehogs prefer to move along edges and under cover. Avoid placing gaps near ponds, steep drops or roads where a hedgehog could come to harm.

Provide Fresh Water and Suitable Food

Water is essential, especially during hot, dry spells. Use a shallow dish no more than 5cm deep and place it at ground level. Refresh it daily, and add a few small stones or a ramp so a hedgehog can climb out if it falls in. Never put out milk or bread — milk can cause serious digestive problems, and bread has little nutritional value.

If you want to offer supplementary food, choose meat-based cat or dog food in jelly, not gravy. Hedgehog food from a garden centre is also suitable, as are plain cat biscuits. Mealworms should only be an occasional treat, never a staple, and never for young hedgehogs. Feed after dusk and remove any leftovers in the morning to avoid attracting rats.

• Use a shallow bowl and place it in a quiet, sheltered spot.
• Offer fresh water every day, even if you also provide food.
• Build a simple feeding station from a paving slab or plastic box with a 13cm entrance to keep cats out.
• Never use slug pellets near food or water; they are poisonous to hedgehogs and their prey.

Build Leafy Shelters and Hibernation Spots

Hedgehogs need somewhere dry and safe to sleep during the day, and somewhere sheltered to hibernate through winter. A wild corner, a leaf pile or a log stack can all work well. Leave a patch of garden untidy from autumn onwards, with dry leaves, twigs and long grass. Resist the urge to clear everything — that debris is a hedgehog’s bed and larder.

• Create a log pile in a shady corner, leaving gaps for hedgehogs to squeeze inside.
• Leave leaf litter and prunings in a heap rather than bagging them for the council.
• Check compost heaps carefully before turning them; hedgehogs often nest inside.
• Place a hedgehog house in a quiet, dry spot with the entrance facing away from prevailing wind.

Fill a hedgehog house with dry leaves, not hay, which can go mouldy and scratch skin. Once a hedgehog settles in for winter, usually between November and March, leave it undisturbed. If you accidentally uncover a hibernating hedgehog, cover it back gently with dry leaves and move away quietly.

Danger-Proof Your Garden

A hedgehog-friendly garden is also a safer garden. Before strimming, mowing or cutting long grass, walk the area and check for sleeping hedgehogs. Bonfires are a particular hazard: build them on the day you plan to light them, and move the pile just before setting it alight. Ponds need an escape route, such as a gently sloping edge, a ramp or a small beach of stones.

• Keep netting at least 30cm above the ground so hedgehogs cannot become tangled.
• Cover drains, window wells and steep-sided water features with mesh or a sturdy ramp.
• Avoid all slug pellets, rat poison and harsh chemicals; hedgehogs can be poisoned indirectly.
• Keep dogs away from quiet corners after dark, and check sheds and garages before closing doors.

If you see a hedgehog out in daylight, especially in winter, it may be unwell or in need of help. Contact a local wildlife rescue for advice. Otherwise, be patient. Hedgehogs are creatures of habit. Once they find a safe route, reliable water and a leafy place to rest, they will often return night after night — a quiet reward for a few small, thoughtful changes.