Our UK Hedgehogs are now an endangered species. Since 2000 we have lost nearly 50% of the UK population. They are now on the Red list as a species that is looking at extinction unless we act quickly to help them.

One of the main causes of their decline is loss of their habitat. With so much land being taken over for housing and industry and the intensification of agriculture. We can halt that decline if we open up our private gardens and make them Hedgehog friendly and inviting.

Ways to make your garden Hedgehog friendly

• Let areas of garden grow wild to mimic the hedgehogs’ natural habitat.
  
  
• Have a log pile or two of rotting wood which will attract: insects and other critters that hedgehogs will feed on.
  
  
• Provide some form of shelter in the colder months by installing a hedgehog nest box, or through logs piles and compost heaps. See our page on Hedgehog nest boxes.
  
  
• Don't be too tidy about picking up those fallen leaves as they will form a great home for beetles and other invertebrates that the Hedgehogs will feed on. Also the dried leaves will make good bedding that Hedgehogs will pull into their sleeping accommodation.
  
  
• Don't use garden chemicals such as slug pellets.
  
  
• Leave out water and foods such as meat based cat food or a dried Hedgehog food. See our page 'What to and what not to feed Hedgehogs'
  
  
• Consider installing Hedgehog Highways by putting holes in your garden fences/gates or planting hedgerows to help hedgehogs move between gardens.
  
  
• If you have a pond put in a sloping edge or some hedgehog ladders so that they can get out if they fall in (see the ladders that we made).
  
  
• Check out any long grass for Hedgehogs before strimming.

Here is a great video made by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society on how to make your garden Hedgehog friendly.