Why we promote Hedgehog friendly fencing

Once a common sight in your garden, sadly this spiky little mammal is in serious decline, with the UK population possibly falling by two-thirds in the last 25 years alone.

Loss and damage of suitable habitat, such as hedgerows and woodland, are a major contributor in hedgehog decline, therefore depriving the species of both food and shelter from badger predation.

These amazing little creatures will eat up your slugs (so no need for slug pellets!), insects and other invertebrates. So they are a much needed benefit to your gardens and lets face it who doesn’t love to see one snuffling about!

We can all help look after this mammal by simply enabling them to travel between gardens. All it takes is to leave a gap creating nature highways and byways for our resident animals to travel freely.

Here are some more ways you can help your local hog:

• Avoid using pesticides and slug pellets in your garden. Not  only can these harm hedgehogs but also damage their food chain. Use organic methods instead.
• Provide a shallow dish of fresh water for all wildlife, and food such as meaty hedgehog food, meaty cat or dog food or cat biscuits for hedgehogs, especially during long dry spells.
• Make or buy a hedgehog home, this offers a hibernation site that is safer from predators in the winter. It may also be used as a nesting box for a mother and her hoglets in the warmer months.
• Check areas thoroughly for hedgehogs and other wildlife before strimming or mowing.
• Dispose of litter responsibly. Every year hedgehogs are injured by litter and starve to death by getting trapped in discarded rubbish. Think about what you have laying about in the garden, could they get trapped?
  
• Hedgehogs are good swimmers but can become trapped in ponds or pools with sheer sides. Keep water levels topped up, provide a gently sloping edge if possible or place half submerged rocks in the water as an escape for them.
• Cattle grids can be a problem, hedgehogs fall in and become trapped, a simple ramp placed in the grid will save lives. The surface should be rough to enable the escapee to gain a foothold. Holes in the ground should be covered over or surrounded by a barrier that keeps hedgehogs out.

When we pop round to give you a quote for any works, please feel free to have a chat and we can help make sure your garden is hedgehog friendly 🙂