31/05/2024
We love hedgehogs too 💚🦔
We love hedgehogs! These snuffly little mammals used to be common across our gardens, but over the last few years their numbers have declined. We can all do our little bit to help them out, and even if you don't think you have hedgehogs in your garden, you might be surprised. Despite their tiny legs these spiny creatures can wander up to two miles each night. Hedgehogs play a vital role in maintaining a balanced ecosystem by keeping insect populations in check. Here's how you can help them thrive:
Create Hedgehog Highways: Ensure hedgehogs can roam freely by creating small holes or gaps in fences and walls. These 'hedgehog highways' allow them to access different gardens in search of food and mates.
Provide Shelter: Hedgehogs need safe places to rest and hibernate. Leave piles of leaves, logs, and brushwood in quiet corners of your garden to create cozy nesting spots for them to curl up during the day. Always check any log or vegetation piles carefully for nesting hedgehogs before starting any fires.
Leave Out Water: Especially during dry spells, leave out a shallow dish of water to keep hedgehogs hydrated. Never give them milk, as it can upset their stomachs.
Provide Food: Hedgehogs are omnivores and enjoy a varied diet of insects, slugs, snails, fruits, and vegetables. Avoid using pesticides in your garden to ensure there's plenty of natural food available, and they'll help take care of your plants by eating the slugs and snails for you.
Check Before Strimming or Mowing: Before using garden machinery, carefully check for hedgehogs hiding in long grass or under bushes. A simple precaution can prevent accidents.
Keep Pets Under Control: Supervise pets, especially dogs, to prevent them from harming hedgehogs. Encourage them to coexist peacefully in your garden.
Let's make our gardens hedgehog havens! Share your hedgehog-friendly garden tips and sightings with us using 🦔💚
