Wildlife

Wild Hedgehog UK: Road Safety Infrastructure and Garden Connectivity

Road deaths and garden fragmentation are the primary welfare threats to hedgehogs, with infrastructure solutions available to both problems.

Key Facts

Hedgehogs are killed on UK roads at a rate estimated at hundreds of thousands annually
Hedgehog highways - 13cm holes in fences - create connected garden networks
Road underpasses designed for hedgehogs are highly effective at reducing mortality at known crossing points
Hedgehog populations near well-connected gardens show significantly better survival than fragmented areas

Welfare Considerations

Road death causes traumatic injury and suffering. Hedgehogs cannot avoid roads without connectivity through gardens. Each hedgehog highway cut creates potential to route individuals around road exposure. Street-scale connectivity campaigns create measurable population impact.

What You Can Do

Cut or request 13cm hedgehog highway holes in all your boundary fences
Join Hedgehog Street campaigns to coordinate neighbourhood hedgehog connectivity
Advocate for hedgehog underpasses at known road crossing points near green spaces