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How to Make Your UK Garden Hedgehog-Friendly

Hedgehogs are one of the UK's most beloved garden visitors, but their numbers have fallen sharply over recent decades. The good news is that small changes to your outdoor space can make a real difference. Here's how to turn your garden into a safe haven for hedgehogs.

Why Hedgehog Numbers Are Declining in the UK

The British Hedgehog Preservation Society estimates that fewer than one million hedgehogs remain in the UK, down from an estimated 30 million in the 1950s. Habitat loss, road traffic, pesticide use and the loss of connected green spaces are all major factors.

Gardens now represent one of the most important refuges for hedgehogs, particularly in urban and suburban areas. By making your garden more welcoming, you become part of a national network of stepping-stone habitats that hedgehogs rely on to find food, shelter and mates.

Understanding why hedgehogs are struggling is the first step. Many hazards are unintentional — garden netting, ponds without exits, and slug pellets can all kill hedgehogs without owners realising the risk.

Creating Safe Access: Hedgehog Highways

Hedgehogs roam up to two miles each night in search of food. Solid garden fences and walls are one of the biggest barriers to their movement. The solution is simple: cut or drill a 13cm x 13cm hole at the base of your fence panels to connect your garden with neighbouring ones.

This network of gaps — sometimes called a 'Hedgehog Highway' — is promoted by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society and has been adopted by towns across the UK. You can register your gap on their interactive map to show how far the connected network extends.

If you're renting, speak to your landlord before cutting fences. Many gaps can be created using existing fence gaps or removing a single loose panel temporarily. Even one connected garden makes a difference.

What to Feed Hedgehogs — and What to Avoid

Hedgehogs are natural insectivores but will readily visit feeding stations. Good foods include wet cat or dog food (meat-based, not fish flavoured), specialist hedgehog biscuits, and crushed cat biscuits. Always provide a shallow dish of fresh water alongside food.

Never feed hedgehogs bread, milk or mealworms. Bread and milk cause digestive problems, while mealworms — despite being popular — have a calcium-to-phosphorus imbalance that can cause metabolic bone disease with regular feeding.

If you're feeding hedgehogs, consider a simple feeding station (a box with a small entrance hole) to keep food away from cats and foxes. Clean dishes nightly to prevent bacteria build-up. Autumn feeding is particularly important as hedgehogs need to reach at least 600g before hibernating.

Removing Garden Hazards

Several common garden features pose serious risks to hedgehogs. Ponds without a ramp or gently sloping edge can trap hedgehogs, which swim well but tire quickly. Adding a piece of chicken wire or a wooden ramp gives them an escape route.

Garden netting left low to the ground can entangle and fatally injure hedgehogs. Always roll up netting when not in use. Strimmers and lawnmowers can injure hedgehogs sheltering in long grass — check before mowing and use a stick to probe long grass before strimming.

Slug pellets containing metaldehyde were banned in Great Britain in 2022, but ferric phosphate pellets — while less toxic — can still harm hedgehogs in large quantities. Wherever possible, encourage hedgehogs as natural pest controllers rather than using any pellets.

Providing Shelter and Nesting Sites

Hedgehogs need two types of shelter: summer nesting sites and winter hibernation spots. Log piles, leaf piles and dense shrubbery all serve as natural nesting material. Purpose-built hedgehog houses placed in a quiet, undisturbed corner can also work well.

Hibernation typically runs from November to March in the UK, though mild winters are causing this to shift. During this period, avoid disturbing leaf piles and compost heaps where hedgehogs may be sheltering.

If you find a hedgehog out during daylight hours, struggling to walk, or visibly injured, it likely needs help. Contact the RSPCA helpline on 0300 1234 999 or your nearest wildlife rescue centre. Never try to nurse a sick hedgehog yourself without professional guidance.

Find a Vet Near You

If you find an injured hedgehog, a local vet can often provide emergency first aid. Many practices treat hedgehogs as part of their wildlife commitment, though costs can vary. Use CompareMyVet at app.comparemyvet.uk to find vet practices near you that can help with wildlife casualties and to compare consultation costs in your area.