Garden Hedgehog Welfare and Habitat Support

Hedgehog populations have declined by over 30% in the UK since 2000; garden-friendly practices including wildlife corridors, feeding, and safe habitats can reverse local declines.

Key Facts

UK hedgehog populations have declined from an estimated 30 million in the 1950s to under 1 million today
Garden fences are the primary barrier to hedgehog movement through suburban landscapes
Hedgehogs travel up to 2 km per night foraging and require access to multiple gardens
Slug pellets containing metaldehyde or methiocarb kill hedgehogs that eat poisoned slugs
Bonfire sites and compost heaps are common sources of hedgehog burns and injuries

Welfare Considerations

Garden hedgehogs exist at the intersection of urban wildlife and human care, with individual wellbeing strongly influenced by decisions made by many individual garden owners. Gardens that provide food, shelter, and access through hole-pierced fences collectively create hedgehog-friendly landscapes that support individual welfare and population recovery. Conversely, enclosed gardens, slug pellets, and garden bonfire practices collectively create landscapes where hedgehogs cannot survive. The distributed nature of garden management means widespread small changes by individual householders can have meaningful landscape-level welfare and conservation effects.

What You Can Do

Cut a 13cm hole in garden fences to allow hedgehog passage between gardens
Provide hedgehog-appropriate food (wet meat-based pet food) rather than bread and milk
Create a log pile or leave an undisturbed corner as hibernation habitat
Never use metaldehyde or methiocarb slug pellets; use pet-safe ferric phosphate alternatives
Always check bonfire sites carefully before lighting and move the pile on the day of burning