Wild Hedgehog Welfare and Garden Support

British hedgehog populations have declined by over 50% since the 1950s. Garden-friendly practices that support hedgehog foraging, movement, and hibernation can make a significant contribution to population recovery.

Key Facts

Hedgehog populations in Britain have declined from an estimated 30 million in the 1950s to under 1 million today
Road mortality, loss of foraging habitat, and garden pesticide use are among the leading causes of decline
Hedgehogs require territories of up to 2 kilometres and connectivity between gardens for effective foraging
A 13cm gap in garden fences enables hedgehog movement while excluding most other garden wildlife
Slug pellets containing metaldehyde were banned in the UK in 2022 due to wildlife toxicity concerns
Hedgehogs hibernate from November to March and require undisturbed leaf piles or hedgehog houses

Welfare Considerations

Hedgehog welfare in urban and suburban landscapes is directly determined by the collective choices of garden owners. Pesticide-free gardens with connected boundaries provide foraging grounds; impermeable fencing creates death traps as hedgehogs travel to find mates and food. Individual garden actions aggregate to landscape-scale impact: a road of houses all installing hedgehog holes creates a wildlife corridor worth more than any single garden intervention. The simplicity and low cost of hedgehog-friendly gardening makes this one of the most accessible wildlife welfare actions available to ordinary householders.

What You Can Do

Install a 13cm hedgehog hole in all garden fences and encourage neighbours to do the same
Avoid all pesticides and slug pellets in your garden, using physical barriers instead
Provide a hedgehog house filled with dry leaves for hibernation in a quiet garden corner
Leave a shallow dish of water and supplementary hedgehog food during dry summer months
Register your hedgehog hole with Hedgehog Street to contribute to the national mapping of safe corridors