7 Ways To Make Your Garden Hedgehog-Friendly

Create Hedgehog Highways
Cut small holes (about 13 x 13 cm) at the bottom of fences or gates to let hedgehogs move between gardens safely. They need to roam to find food and mates.

Avoid Using Pesticides and Slug Pellets
These chemicals can poison hedgehogs directly or reduce their natural food sources (like insects, worms, and slugs). Opt for organic pest control instead.

Provide Shelter and Nesting Sites
Leave a quiet, undisturbed corner with logs, leaves, and twigs where hedgehogs can nest or hibernate. You can also buy or build a hedgehog house.

Leave Out Food and Water
Put out shallow dishes of fresh water and meaty cat or dog food (never milk or bread). This helps especially in dry or cold seasons.

Check Before Strimming or Bonfires
Always check long grass, leaf piles, and bonfires before cutting or lighting them—hedgehogs often hide there.

Make Ponds Safe
Hedgehogs can swim but may drown if they can’t climb out. Provide a gentle slope, ramp, or pile of stones as an escape route.

Leave Some Wild Areas
A tidy garden isn’t always wildlife-friendly. Let parts of your garden grow wild with native plants, long grass, and leaf litter to attract insects and give hedgehogs a safe haven.