Help for Hedgehogs
Jinny Matters of Corsham Area Hedgehog Rescue came to Batheaston to tell us why hedgehogs need our help.
The British hedgehog is now officially ‘vulnerable to extinction’. Changes in agricultural practises, use of pesticides and climate change have reduced their food supplies and destroyed their habitats.
What can we do?
Hedgehogs are nocturnal so you may not have seen any near you. But they are moving into urban areas where parks and wildlife friendly gardens provide a stable habitat for them. With a few small changes in your gardening habits you can make your garden hedgehog safe and welcoming. You may be rewarded by these charming creatures coming to live with you.
Gather fallen leaves into heaps. Create piles of logs. These are places hedgehogs like to make their nests.
Before strimming, check the undergrowth for hedgehogs.
Bonfires are a real danger to them. An unlit bonfire is a pile of sticks and logs - an ideal nesting place. Do without a bonfire on firework night, or use a brazier.
Don’t use pesticides or herbicides. They reduce the number of insects, slugs and earthworms available for hedgehogs to eat. The hedgehogs may also be poisoned by eating slug pellets or by eating poisoned slugs and worms.
Don’t leave plastic or metal lying around
Hedgehogs can swim! If you have a pond, make sure there is an escape route so that hedgehogs can easily climb out.
Do more if possible
If you have a fence between you and a neighbour see if they will agree to a hedgehog highway - a small gap in the fence that allows hedgehogs to roam.
Provide a hedgehog house. If you buy one, make sure that it has no plastic or metal inside.
They can safely eat chicken flavoured kitten kibble (a dry food) and they drink water. If you leave these out in saucers, they may be shared by lots of other wildlife including foxes, cats, mice and rats. It is better to put the food and water in a feeding station with a tunnel entrance.
Join the Helping Hedgehogs WhatsApp Group
This group shares information and stories about hedgehogs and any sightings. You can join automatically by pointing the camera in WhatsApp at this QR code or by emailing hello@growbatheaston.co.uk.
