Urban Hedgehog Connectivity: Garden Design for Wildlife

Garden design choices significantly affect hedgehog welfare by enabling or preventing movement through urban landscapes. Simple changes can make gardens vital wildlife corridors.

Key Facts

Hedgehog populations have declined by over 50% in the UK since 2000, with urban populations holding up better than rural ones
Hedgehogs need to roam 1-2km per night to forage effectively - solid garden boundaries prevent this
The Hedgehog Street campaign promotes 13x13cm holes in fences and walls to create connected networks
A single connected neighbourhood can support a viable hedgehog population where fragmented gardens cannot
Slug pellets containing metaldehyde (now banned) and methiocarb (still available) are toxic to hedgehogs
Garden ponds without exit ramps cause hedgehog drowning - a preventable welfare and population problem
Bonfires built in autumn frequently shelter hedgehogs preparing to hibernate, requiring pre-light checks

Welfare Considerations

Urban hedgehog welfare is directly shaped by garden management decisions made by millions of homeowners. Solid fencing that prevents movement forces hedgehogs into smaller ranges with insufficient food, leading to poor body condition and reduced survival. Pesticide use affects both hedgehogs directly and their invertebrate food supply. Accessible ponds without escape routes cause drowning deaths throughout the year. Simple, low-cost interventions - fence holes, pond ramps, slug pellet alternatives, and bonfire checks - translate directly into welfare improvements for individual hedgehogs.

What You Can Do

Make a 13x13cm hole in your garden fence or wall and ask neighbours to do the same
Remove or avoid using slug pellets - use copper tape, wool pellets, or beer traps instead
Add a ramp or rough stone exit point to any garden pond to enable hedgehog escape
Check bonfires carefully before lighting, particularly in autumn when hedgehogs may be sheltering inside