Why leaving part of your Devon garden wild could help hedgehogs thrive

This July, gardeners across Devon are being encouraged to take part in a new wildlife campaign that aims to support the local hedgehog population by creating small wild patches in their gardens.

The ‘Go WILD for Hedgehogs’ initiative, launched by Hedgehog Street, a project run by the People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) and the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS), asks residents to leave an area of their garden undisturbed to provide natural insect food and nesting materials for native hedgehogs.

Participants simply choose a patch of their garden to leave uncut and unweeded, then upload photos and record its location online.

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This helps conservationists at PTES and BHPS track where suitable hedgehog habitats exist and identify where more are needed.

Grace Johnson, Hedgehog Officer for Hedgehog Street, said: “Wild patches are a brilliant way to help hedgehogs, and best of all, they’re minimal effort and cost! By allowing a small area to grow naturally, gardeners can create valuable habitats for hedgehogs and other wildlife right in their neighbourhoods.”

According to PTES and BHPS, hedgehogs in Britain have faced steep declines in recent decades.

Their 2022 State of Britain’s Hedgehogs report shows rural populations have dropped by 30 to 75 per cent since 2000.

However, urban hedgehog numbers may be stabilising thanks to efforts by groups like Hedgehog Street and the many volunteers working to make gardens more wildlife friendly.

The campaign also offers advice on additional ways to support hedgehogs, such as creating compost heaps, log piles, and wildlife ponds, as well as connecting green spaces with small ‘Hedgehog Highways’, holes cut into garden fences that allow hedgehogs to move freely in search of food and shelter.

For those without gardens, Hedgehog Street encourages contacting local councils to promote hedgehog-friendly green space management, raising awareness through social media, or joining volunteer monitoring programmes.

To take part and register a wild patch, visit www.hedgehogstreet.org/go-wild-for-hedgehogs.

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