The ‘gardener’s friend’ needs your help

The hedgehog has been voted Britain’s favourite wild mammal, but despite that hedgehog numbers have been declining for many years and they are now classified as ‘vulnerable to extinction’. They are often referred to as the ‘gardener’s friend’ and most people are thrilled to spot one in the garden, but it’s becoming an increasingly rare sight. Hedgehogs love beetles and caterpillars, making them the perfect visitor for keen gardeners worried about their plants getting eaten.

The problem is that hedgehogs are finding it harder to find good places to live and enough food to eat. And if hedgehogs are in trouble it raises concerns about other species and the environment in general. Here’s how you can help:

Create 13cm x 13cm square gaps in your boundary fence and ask your neighbours to do the same.

Offer hedgehog food, or meaty cat or dog food, or some cat biscuits alongside a bowl of water at night.

Make your garden wildlife friendly – avoid using slug pellets or pesticides and leave one corner ‘a bit wild’.

Create a log pile in your garden, to provide natural shelter and food – don’t disturb it. Or consider putting out a hedgehog house.

Ask everyone you know to check for hedgehogs before strimming or mowing. Check compost heaps before sticking a big fork in there too!

If you’ve got a pond, make sure hedgehogs can get out if they fall in. Ideally create sloping edges, or provide ramps or steps up.

Put up a display of posters at your local garden centre, shop, school, etc – the British Hedgehog Preservation Society can supply posters for free. See www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk

Why not become a Hedgehog Champion? Just go to https://www.hedgehogstreet.org/ and sign up – it’s free to join and you’ll get access to lots of hedgehog information.

If you see any hedgehogs out during the day looking lethargic, wobbly, injured or covered in flies, they need help. Get them indoors into a big deep box with an old towel and a hot water bottle. Keep them somewhere calm and quiet and offer a small amount of cat or dog or hedgehog food and water. Call the British Hedgehog Preservation Society on 01584 890801 for contact details for your nearest hedgehog rescue.