Hedgehogs have declined by 50% in rural areas since 2000 but are holding on better in suburban gardens. Creating connected garden networks by cutting hedgehog holes in fences is one of the most direct individual welfare actions available to householders.
Hedgehog welfare in suburban areas is directly constrained by garden fence boundaries that prevent their natural foraging range. Hedgehogs confined within a single garden without access to sufficient invertebrate prey lose weight over summer and enter hibernation underweight — a welfare crisis that leads to death during winter if insufficient fat reserves are built. Creating a single 13cm square hedgehog hole in each boundary fence connects gardens into a foraging network. Bonfire checks before lighting (to avoid burning hibernating hedgehogs), slug pellet avoidance and provision of fresh water all contribute to hedgehog welfare. The British Hedgehog Preservation Society champions the Hedgehog Street campaign that has created thousands of connected garden networks.