Hedgehog Homes
Provide a natural feature, such a compost heap or log pile to create a cosy area for hedgehogs to nest whilst simultaneously encouraging invertebrates they can feed on. You can also provide a ready-made house for your spiky visitors.
Hedgehog Nests
During the daytime hedgehogs need somewhere safe to sleep, and overwinter when they hibernate they make an even warmer nest called a hibernacula.
Natural nests can range in size and are made under sheds, shrubs and bushes, piles of leaves and logs, compost and even rubbish heaps. They will use natural materials such as grass, moss, straw, plants, leaves, and all sorts of garden debris to build their nests. They will pull all this material into their nest to make it warm and cosy. You can help them in your garden by leaving some nice thick dense undergrowth, piles of leaves, and grass at different lengths.
If you think there’s not enough natural material or overgrown areas for a hedgehog to make a home themselves in your garden, you can help by providing a ready-made home for them!
Hedgehog Houses
If you would like to provide a hedgehog house in your garden, you can buy one or make your own! Simply follow these guidelines:
Make it waterproof. If you use wood, make sure it’s untreated.
The sleeping area should be around 30cm wide, 40 cm long and 30cm high. This means that the hedgehog will be able to turn around easily in the compartment and also stuff it full of bedding to keep warm.
Instead of a tunnel, you can add an internal corridor which the hedgehog walks down and around into the sleeping area as shown on the illustration. This prevents other animals from disturbing the hedgehog whilst it sleeps.
Use hay, straw or dry leaves as bedding. Provide some extra bedding in the corridor or just outside the house and you can watch the hedgehog drag mouthfuls of bedding in to make their nest!
Pop your new hedgehog home in a sheltered, quiet area. To avoid the cold winter winds, make sure the entrance does not face north or north-east.
If you provide food make sure it is a little distance away from the house to avoid attracting pests near your hedgehogs sleeping zone.
Christmas Hedgehog Ball
Shepreth Wildlife Park is turning 40 this year! Celebrate with us on December 21st 2024 at King’s College, Cambridge. All proceeds are in aid of the SWCC Hedgehog Hospital.