Hedgehog Decline and Garden Welfare

Hedgehog populations have declined by up to 75% in the UK since 1995, and gardens can play a crucial role in their survival.

Key Facts

UK hedgehog populations have fallen from 30 million in the 1950s to under 1 million today
Garden fragmentation by solid fencing prevents hedgehog movement between gardens
Pesticide use reduces invertebrate prey that hedgehogs depend on
Hedgehogs hibernate from October to April and need undisturbed winter shelter
Garden bonfires and strimming kill large numbers of hedgehogs annually

Welfare Considerations

The welfare of declining hedgehog populations is directly affected by garden management choices made by millions of homeowners. Hedgehogs injured by strimmers, poisoned by slug pellets, starved by insecticide-decimated invertebrate populations, or trapped by solid garden fences experience individual suffering that aggregates across a population-level decline. The collective action of garden owners represents one of the most tractable and impactful wildlife welfare interventions available.

What You Can Do

Create a small gap at the base of garden fences to allow hedgehog passage
Stop using metaldehyde slug pellets that poison hedgehogs
Check bonfires carefully before lighting for sheltering hedgehogs
Leave wild corners of gardens as invertebrate habitat and hedgehog foraging ground
Support the Hedgehog Street campaign and record hedgehog sightings in your garden