Wildlife

Hedgehog Garden Connectivity and Welfare

Hedgehog populations have declined by over 50% in the UK since 2000, and improving garden connectivity by creating hedgehog highways between enclosed gardens is one of the most effective individual actions possible.

Key Facts

Hedgehogs need to travel 2km or more per night to find adequate food and mates
Solid fencing with no gaps creates lethal fragmentation of urban hedgehog populations
A 13cm x 13cm hole in fencing allows hedgehog passage while excluding most pets
The British Hedgehog Preservation Society estimates fewer than 1 million remain in Britain

Welfare Considerations

Hedgehog welfare in urban areas is severely compromised by garden fragmentation. Individual hedgehogs trapped in enclosed gardens cannot meet foraging requirements, find mates or access suitable hibernation sites. Netting at ground level, ponds without ramps and slug pellets are additional specific threats that can be readily addressed.

What You Can Do

Create a 13cm x 13cm hole in fencing to allow hedgehog movement between gardens
Install a ramp in any steep-sided garden pond to prevent drowning
Avoid netting at ground level in the evening when hedgehogs are most active
Register your garden as a hedgehog highway on the Big Hedgehog Map