Hedgehogs are one of Britain’s most loved native mammals, but sadly their numbers have been declining for years due to habitat loss, roads and barriers like close boarded fences that block their nightly journeys between gardens. In the recent Wild London episode, Sir David Attenborough highlights how simple measures like hedgehog highways (small gaps at the base of fences) can make a big difference to their ability to roam safely through our neighbourhoods.
Hedgehogs can travel up to around 2km (about a mile or more) each night in search of food, mates and nesting spots. But many modern gardens are cut off from each other, forcing hedgehogs onto busy roads or into dangerous territory to get where they need to go. Creating a hedgehog highway (approx. 13cm x 13cm (5”×5”) hole in a fence or panel lets them pass freely and safely between neighbouring gardens. This simple feature helps reduce road crossings, expands their available habitat and supports healthier hedgehog populations overall. More information on this can be found on the RHS website.
Here are some practical ways to make your outdoor space a haven for hedgehogs:
Create Hedgehog Highways
Work with your neighbours to cut small access holes through fences or walls to connect gardens. These tiny pathways make a big difference.
Provide Food and Water
Leave out shallow bowls of fresh water and hedgehog friendly food such as wet cat or dog food or specialised hedgehog biscuits. Avoid milk as hedgehogs can’t digest it.
Build Shelters or Hedgehog Houses
Hedgehogs appreciate places to shelter and hibernate. You can build or buy a purpose built hedgehog house or leave piles of leaves and logs as natural hideouts.
Leave Wild Areas
Allow a patch of your garden to grow a little wilder with log piles, leaf litter, or long grass — this attracts insects (their main food source) and provides great cover.
Avoid Harmful Products
Skip slug pellets, pesticides and herbicides, which can poison hedgehogs or reduce their food sources.
At Stephen, we care about wildlife just as much as we care about people. That’s why we install hedgehog highways across our developments, ensuring that local hedgehogs can move safely and freely between gardens, helping to protect and support this charming species right where our community lives.
