Ah, the hedgehog. Nature’s adorable little pincushion on legs. You may have seen one in your garden, waddling about like it owns the place (spoiler: it kind of does). These spiky pals are more than just cute – they’re essential for keeping your garden’s ecosystem in balance. But, like all guests, they need a little TLC to make themselves feel at home. So, how do you turn your garden into a 5-star hedgehog hotel? Let’s get into it!
1. First Impressions Matter: Create a Hedgehog Haven
Hedgehogs are fussy (who can blame them?). They like their privacy and hate flashy entrances. Ditch the decking and build a hedgehog-friendly space. A wild corner of your garden with leaf piles, logs, or a hedgehog house will do wonders. Think of it as a VIP lounge for spiky creatures. Throw in a bit of moss and a few insects, and you've got yourself a hedgehog party!
2. Feed 'Em Right: Hedgehog-Approved Menu
Now, before you start offering them your leftover dinner, don’t. Hedgehogs are usually insectivores but may consume small mammals and carrion if their usual food source isn’t available. The best meal is always their natural diet, but if that is not in abundance meaty cat food (wet or dry) and specialist hedgehog foods are a gourmet choice.
Do not give them milk. Hedgehogs are lactose intolerant. You may think that milk is a nutritious meal for hedgehogs, but the reality is that the hedgehog drinking the milk will likely have diarrhoea afterwards and be at risk of serious dehydration and possibly death. Stick with water – fresh, clean, and plenty of it.
3. Keep the Neighbourhood Safe
Garden hazards are everywhere – to us, a fence is just a fence, but to a hedgehog, it’s like scaling the bloody Great Wall of China. Make sure they have little highways between gardens by cutting gaps at the bottom of fences or hedges. Hedgehogs love to explore, and if you make it easier for them, they’ll love you for it.
Also, watch out for slug pellets – they may be great for your plants, but they’re toxic to hedgehogs. And if you’re mowing the lawn, keep your eyes peeled! Hedgehogs are sneaky and might be having a nap in the tall grass.
4. Let Them Hibernate in Style
When winter comes, hedgehogs go off the grid and hibernate. They need a cosy, safe spot to snuggle up in from November to March. Leaf piles, logs, or even a custom-made hedgehog house (get creative!) will give them the perfect snooze spot. Just remember, don’t disturb them – waking up mid-hibernation is not part of the plan and could harm them.
5. Light the Way – Or Not!
Hedgehogs are night owls. They love a moonlit adventure. Too many garden lights might confuse or disturb them, so dim the lights in the evening and let them roam free.