Tips on making your garden a hedgehog haven

“They like to hibernate in compost piles, so do be careful in the spring to check for them before emptying your compost bins.”

Yasmin Parr, who lives in Campbeltown and has an MSci in Veterinary Bioscience and a PhD in Infection and Immunology, spoke to the Courier about what we can do to help the hedgehog. 

“Over the last 10 years, more than a third of hedgehogs have disappeared in Britain and, sadly, their numbers are continuing to decline,” she said.

“They love to eat slugs, caterpillars, worms and beetles, making them the perfect gardener’s friend.

“There are lots of things you can do to encourage hedgehogs into your garden and to help them reach their target hibernation survival weight.”

Dr Parr has issued the following advice: 

• Leave areas of your garden wild – Help hedgehogs by leaving piles of logs or leaves for them to nest in or provide an artificial home for them. Hedgehog houses can be purchased or can be easily made from untreated wood. Place them in a quiet corner of your garden to give hedgehogs a safe place to rest.
• Ditch the chemicals – Use organic gardening methods and stay clear of chemicals such as pesticides and herbicides that can be harmful to hedgehogs.
• Provide food and water – You can encourage hedgehogs into your garden by providing some food and water for them. They enjoy tinned dog or cat food and crushed dog or cat biscuits. Please don’t feed them milk or bread! Discard any uneaten food and wash the food and water bowls daily with hot soapy water.
• Create access points in your garden – Cut a small hole at the bottom of your garden fence to help hedgehogs get in and out of your garden.

For more advice on how to help hedgehogs, particularly around bonfire season, visit our Letters to the Editor section to read a letter from Fay Vass, chief executive of the British Hedgehog Preservation Society.