Why Hedgehogs Need a Helping Hand

Hedgehogs are one of Britain's best-loved garden visitors, but their numbers have fallen sharply in recent decades. The good news is that suburban gardens can make a real difference. A hedgehog can travel up to two kilometres in a single night, searching for food, shelter and a mate. Every garden that offers a safe route, a quiet corner and a shallow dish of water becomes part of a larger lifeline. You do not need a large plot or a perfect lawn. You simply need to think like a hedgehog.

Open Up Your Fence Line

The single most useful thing you can do is create a gap in your fence or wall. Solid boundaries turn gardens into islands, and hedgehogs cannot climb or dig under them. A gap the size of a CD case, about 13 centimetres square, is enough for a hedgehog to pass through but too small for most pets.

• Cut a small arch at the base of a wooden fence panel, or lift a gravel board and replace it with a shorter one.
• Check with your neighbours before you cut. A coordinated row of gaps creates a proper hedgehog highway.
• Keep the gap clear of leaves and debris, and avoid blocking it with plant pots or bins.
• Mark the spot with a small stone or a sprig of lavender so you remember it when strimming.

If you have a wall, a missing brick at ground level works just as well. In a French-style garden, a ha-ha or sunken boundary already allows wildlife to move freely. For most of us, a simple fence gap is the practical answer.

Leave a Wild Corner

Hedgehogs need somewhere to sleep, nest and hibernate. A tidy garden with short grass and bare soil offers little shelter. Set aside a corner that you leave largely alone. This is not an eyesore; it is a habitat. A pile of logs, a heap of leaves and a patch of long grass will soon attract beetles, slugs and worms, which are natural hedgehog food.

• Build a log pile in a shady spot. Stack logs loosely, leaving gaps for hedgehogs to crawl inside.
• Leave fallen leaves in a heap. They provide insulation and a place to hibernate from November to March.
• Add a compost heap if you have room. It is warm, damp and full of invertebrates.
• Avoid cutting back the wild corner between October and April. If you must tidy, do it gently and check for residents first.

You can make a simple hedgehog house from a plastic storage box with a 13-centimetre entrance hole, or buy a wooden one. Place it in the quiet corner, cover it with leaves and leave it undisturbed.

Water, Food and What to Avoid

Hedgehogs get thirsty, especially in dry spells. Put out a shallow dish of fresh water every day. Do not use milk or bread; they cause stomach upsets. If you want to offer food, use meat-based cat or dog food, or specialist hedgehog food. Never put out fish-based food.

Slug pellets are lethal to hedgehogs. A hedgehog that eats a poisoned slug will suffer a slow and painful death. Use beer traps, copper tape or simply encourage birds and frogs instead. Avoid all pesticides and insecticides. Check long grass before strimming or mowing, and always move a bonfire pile before lighting it.

A French-Inspired Approach to a Wilder Garden

French gardens often celebrate a little wildness at the edges. Think of the jardin sauvage, a patch left to its own devices, or a potager where fallen fruit is left for wildlife. A gravel path, a stone basin for water and a loose hedge of hazel or hornbeam all feel very French, yet they suit hedgehogs perfectly. The key is balance: structure and beauty near the house, a relaxed, untamed corner further out.

You do not need to sacrifice style. A neatly clipped box hedge can run alongside a wild log pile. A lavender border can sit next to a shallow water dish. The result is a garden that is both elegant and alive. Encourage a hedgehog, and you will find your garden becomes richer, more textured and more interesting. It is a small change with a very big reward.