Hedgehog Awareness Week runs from 2nd – 8th May and is organised by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS). Their mission is to give advice to the public concerning the care of hedgehogs, as well as encouraging children to respect our natural wildlife. This is done by supplying information and giving lectures to foster an interest in hedgehogs. They also fund research into the behavioural habits of hedgehogs to ascertain the best methods to aid their survival. Here at Lawntech, we’re big supporters of hedgehogs as they earn their place on the team by eating many of the pests which bring chaos to our lawns, and gardens in general. The BHPS’ website is a mine of useful information…
Lawntech is happy to support the BHPS’ Hedgehog Street
HEDGEHOG STREET
My Hedgehog Street is a special online area for Hedgehog Champions – that is, anyone who is passionate about the future of our wild hedgehogs. It contains free stuff to help you promote hedgehog-friendly activities to the people living in your local area, plus forums and photo galleries.
Make sure hedgehogs can access your garden with a ‘Hedgehog Highway’ – a 5” x 5” (13 x 13cm) square gap in the bottom of fences or walls should do it! Once created you can log these on the big Hedgehog Map at www.bighedgehogmap.org
Here’s The Big Hedgehog Map for the area around Lawntech’s HQ.
Using the new Hedgehog Street app, it’s easier than ever to help hedgehogs. Packed with monthly tips and advice straight to your phone or tablet. You can also log hedgehog sightings on the go, using the Big Hedgehog Map. The app is available to both Apple and Android users, and is downloadable for free from the App Store or Google Play by searching ‘Hedgehog Street’ in your app store.
GIMME SHELTER…
In the wild, Hedgehogs begin to collect leaves, grass, straw, bracken and reeds in Autumn as materials for building their nests. Typically they do this under hedgerows, fallen logs or piles of brushwood. Most gardens have a suitable supply of materials sites for nests – under sheds, compost heaps, shrubs and piles of leaves or behind stacks of logs and under spare building materials. If hedgehogs want to spend a winter here, they should be able to get on and build their own shelters. However, you may wish to provide your resident hedgehog with a more permanent structure.
Location
Place your hedgehog house in a quiet part of your garden, preferably against a bank, wall or fence. Make sure the entrance does not face North or North East, thus avoiding the cold winter winds.
Cleaning
Hedgehogs will reuse a house even if it isn’t cleaned out. However if you want to clean it, do so after winter in late March/early April. You can clean the house using hot water, a scrubbing brush and an organic Pyrethrum powder suitable for caged birds.
WHATEVER YOU DO, PLEASE DO NOT SPRING CLEAN THE HOUSE IF A HEDGEHOG IS IN RESIDENCE!
To make sure there is nobody home, put a small, light obstruction in the entrance to see whether it is pushed away overnight. if it isn’t, this is an indication that the hedgehog may no longer be in residence (but take care just in case). You might prefer to leave some clean bedding materials in a bundle by the ‘front door’, for the hedgehog to freshen up the home for themselves.
Maintenance
Definitely do not treat the hedgehog house with creosote, non-water-based preservatives or paint – the fumes linger for ages and can be very harmful. If used, water-based preservatives should be on the outside of the box only.
Building a Hedgehog Home
There are various “ready-made” hedgehog homes on the market, including the one that can be obtained from the BHPS Hogalogue. You can also see guidenace, plans and a downloadable leaflet on how to build your own Hedgehog Home at www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/hedgehog-homes
You can also create your own hedgehog haven. Gardens are a stronghold for hedgehogs and you can make their lives much easier with very little effort. Here are a few things you can do;
- Create a log pile that will offer shelter and food
- Move piles of rubbish to a new site on the day you are burning it
- Check areas carefully before mowing or strimming and compost heaps before digging the fork in
- Stop using pesticides and poisons where possible
- Cover drains or deep holes and ensure there is an easy route out of ponds & pools
We also have more advice of our own, on the Hedgehog page of the Lawntech Lawn Care Guide:
