You may not realise it, but it’s actually quite common to have hedgehogs in your garden. In urban areas particularly you tend to see them a lot, as gardens, hedgerows and light woodlands offer a suitable habitat for hedgehogs.
They are commonly found in areas that mimic countryside habitats, including gardens, which is why you may sometimes see them around. However, the adorable little creatures sometimes need a little help in hand to survive during the summer, especially during hot and dry weather when they may struggle to find natural food and water sources, and can become dehydrated or overheated.
There are a few things you can do to create a hedgehog-friendly garden and keep them as safe and as well looked after as possible. To help people out, an expert has shared some advice.
Paul Smythe, owner of Gower Decking and TrexPro decking installer, shared what people can do to make a big difference. The company has thousands of followers on Instagram, so he’s someone you should probably listen to.
He said: “Leave a shallow dish of clean water at ground level for spiny visitors – a simple but effective way to help hedgehogs during the hot summer months. If you want to encourage wildlife, stop using slug pellets as they’re harmful to hedgehogs.
“Plus, hedgehogs eat slugs and snails – so they’ll do the job of the pellets for you!”
Paul added: “Hawthorn, dog rose and honeysuckle attract insects that are a vital source of food for hedgehogs – so consider these in your planting scheme. Top tip – thick shrubs provide great nesting and cover for hedgehogs.”
When leaving out water for hedgehogs, there are a few things you should consider. The bowls should ideally be shallow, and the water needs to be clean too.
They shouldn’t be too deep. Some people also leave out hedgehog-specific food to ensure they eat well too.
Gardeners should also avoid offering milk to drink, as this can cause them to experience diarrhoea. People can also consider leaving food in a sheltered spot, particularly at sunset, as this is when the little animals are most active.
It’s also important to be mindful of litter and wired fencing. This is because hedgehogs can injure themselves on both.
If you want to make your garden more hedgehog-friendly, there are also some other things you can do. You could start by planting native plants as they provide food and shelter.
You can also create a hedgehog house by leaving piles of leaves and twigs, or by allowing a small area to grow wild. Additionally, you can also connect gardens by creating paths by cutting holes in fences to enable hedgehogs to move between areas.
For those with a pond, it’s important to make it safe for hedgehogs. You can form an escape route for them by creating a ramp or plank.
As well as this, you could cover drains and other holes in the garden to prevent hedgehogs from falling in. This will help to keep them as safe as possible.
By making these simple changes, you can work to make your outdoor space a lot more hedgehog-friendly. Following these tips should enable your garden to be safer for them.