Wildlife

Wild Hedgehog Foraging Habitat Restoration

Restoring diverse foraging habitat is essential for wild hedgehog population recovery across the UK.

Key Facts

Hedgehogs need 1-2 km of foraging range nightly to meet nutritional needs
Invertebrate-rich grassland, hedgerows and woodland edge provide key food sources
Garden connectivity via hedgehog highways supports population dispersal
Pesticide reduction in gardens and farms directly benefits hedgehog prey availability
National hedgehog population has declined by over 50% since the year 2000

Welfare Considerations

Habitat loss reduces foraging success, leading to nutritional stress and poor breeding outcomes. Restoring connected, pesticide-free habitats addresses the root cause of hedgehog decline and improves welfare at a population level.

What You Can Do

Create a hedgehog highway by cutting a 13cm hole in garden fences
Reduce or eliminate pesticide use in gardens
Plant native wildflowers and maintain log piles for invertebrate habitat
Support the British Hedgehog Preservation Society's mapping projects