Creating a community of hedgehogs

Connor takes a closer look at how, by connecting gardens and green spaces, communities of people can create communities of hedgehogs...

Hedgehogs are one of our most familiar and beloved wild mammals. They’ve left their mark on our culture, from the pages of Shakespeare and Beatrix Potter to road safety adverts of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Despite their popularity, hedgehogs are struggling. Their numbers have dropped sharply and in 2020 European hedgehogs Erinaceus europaeus were added to the IUCN Red List of species at risk of extinction in the UK.

While the causes, such as road traffic and habitat loss, are perhaps obvious to most people, one surprising fact stands out: hedgehog populations are declining more rapidly in rural areas than in urban ones. A 2021 report by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society found that although urban populations were still low, they showed promising signs of recovery.

That recovery offers hope and a unique opportunity for all of us to help from our own homes. One of the best ways communities can support hedgehogs is by connecting gardens and green spaces, creating "hedgehog highways" that allow these little wanderers to move safely and freely through our towns and cities.

Hedgehog caught on trailcam walking through a garden - the image is black and white

Why hedgehog highways matter

Hedgehogs need to travel up to two kilometres (just over a mile) each night to find food, mates and shelter. In urban and suburban areas, fences and walls can turn into major barriers. However, with just a bit of effort, we can make a big difference.

By cutting small holes, about 13 cm by 13 cm, at the bottom of fences, residents can create access points between gardens. These form part of a larger, connected network of safe pathways that help hedgehogs explore, feed and thrive. This interconnected habitat highway means that our local hedgehogs can find all the tasty beetles, worms, slugs, snails and other invertebrates they need to keep themselves healthy. That's right, they've earned the nickname “gardener’s friend” amongst our green fingered community members because they help to keep populations of pesky wildlife like slugs and snails in check.

Community involvement and support

Local councils, wildlife organisations (like us at WWT) and neighbourhood groups, such as “Friends of” groups, can strengthen this effort. By linking private gardens with public green spaces, like parks and allotments, we can build more extensive and safe environments for hedgehogs to roam.

Posting signs and sharing hedgehog highway maps can also help raise awareness and show how each person’s small action fits into a larger conservation strategy.

Creating safe and friendly spaces

Beyond hedgehog-accessibility, we want to make sure that our gardens are inviting places for hedgehogs to live. Here are a few simple ways to help:

Avoid pesticides and slug pellets that are toxic to hedgehogs
Plant native species that support the local insect population, an important food source
Leave areas a little wild to offer natural shelter and places to forage
Provide water dishes, log piles and hedgehog houses for shelter and rest

Once hedgehogs are visiting your garden, keep it safe for them:

Always check under bushes before mowing or strimming as you may have a frightened friend hiding there
Inspect bonfires or any piles of wood before lighting them as you may catch a sleeping hedgehog using it for shelter

Small habits such as these can help protect the wildlife you’re welcoming in to your own little conservation area.

Get involved with citizen science

A great way to support hedgehogs is by taking part in citizen science projects. You can help by:

Recording hedgehog sightings
Using footprint tunnels
Setting up wildlife cameras

This data is invaluable, helping us and others to track hedgehog populations and better plan for their future.

If you spot a hedgehog in your area, let us know through our Worcestershire's Hedgehogs webpage; your sighting could make a real difference!

A shared effort for our prickly friends

When communities come together to connect gardens and green spaces, we create a safer, more welcoming world for hedgehogs and other wildlife. Even the smallest actions can have a big impact, helping hedgehogs not just survive but thrive as part of our shared natural heritage.

So keep an eye out, leave a hole in your fence and share your sightings. Together, we can make sure hedgehogs remain a vital part of our landscape for generations to come.