Urban Wildlife

Urban Hedgehog Garden Corridor Welfare

Garden boundaries and roads fragment hedgehog habitat, but simple interventions can help sustain urban hedgehog populations and welfare.

Key Facts

UK hedgehog populations have declined by over 50% since 2000
Urban gardens can support hedgehogs if connected by 13cm holes in fences
Roads are a major hedgehog mortality cause, particularly in summer months
Log piles and compost heaps provide nesting sites and invertebrate prey
Garden chemicals and slug pellets reduce invertebrate prey availability

Welfare Considerations

Road casualties cause acute suffering before death, while habitat fragmentation causes chronic stress from inadequate foraging and nesting opportunities. Connected gardens that allow hedgehog movement significantly improve survival and reproductive success in urban areas.

What You Can Do

Make a 13cm gap in your garden fence to create a hedgehog highway
Avoid metaldehyde slug pellets and other chemicals harmful to hedgehogs
Register your hedgehog-friendly garden at the Big Hedgehog Map