Helping Hedgehogs Thrive
Hedgehog Awareness Week takes place every year in early May, this year it is 4th - 10th May, and it's the perfect time to shine a light on one of Britain’s most beloved — yet increasingly threatened — garden visitors. Run by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS), this week encourages everyone to learn more about hedgehogs and find simple ways to help them survive and thrive in the wild.
photo credit Pixabay via Pexels
Why hedgehogs need our help
Hedgehogs are facing serious challenges. Since the year 2000, their numbers have dropped between 30-75% since 2000.
The causes for the significant drop in numbers are varied, including:
Loss of habitat due to development and agriculture
Traffic incidents
Use of pesticides and slug pellets that reduce their food sources
Fencing and walls that block their movement
Fascinating hedgehog facts
Hedgehogs can travel up to 2 miles a night in search of food and mates.
Hedgehogs are insectivores and love eating beetles, worms, and slugs, making them natural pest controllers.
When threatened, they curl into a tight ball, with up to 7,000 spines acting as armour.
Photo credit: Monicore via Pexels
How can we help hedgehogs?
Provide food and water
A shallow dish of water is a lifesaver. You can also offer meaty cat food or specialist hedgehog food — never give milk or bread. At Nelly’s we sell a range of hedgehog food.
Buy a Hedgehog House
A hedgehog house offers safe shelter during hibernation or for raising hoglets (baby hedgehogs). We sell the perfect hedgehog house here at Nelly’s.
Create a hedgehog highway
Create a hole about 13cm x 13cm at the bottom of your garden fence to allow hedgehogs to roam freely between gardens.
Create a wild corner
Leave a pile of leaves, logs, or twigs in a quiet spot — perfect for nesting or foraging.
Avoid using slug pellets
If necessary use an organic methods of pest control like nematodes. Hedgehogs eat slugs, and poison can enter their system through the food chain. Or even better, let the hedgehogs be the pest control and eat the slugs for you!
Check before you strim
Always check long grass and undergrowth before using garden tools. Many hedgehogs are injured by strimmers and mowers each year.
If you have any further questions, please do come in to store, phone or email.