Sir David Attenborough has shared a simple technique for gardeners to help one of Britain's most cherished and threatened animals stage a recovery: creating a "hedgehog highway" by cutting small openings in fences.
In a YouTube video on the BBC's channel, titled 'Sir David Attenborough sends a hedgehog on his way' as part of the Wild London series, Attenborough discusses how hedgehog sightings have become increasingly rare. "I used to have a hedgehog that lived in my garden all the time, but now they're a rare sight," he says, describing the creatures as "charming, but not very social."
Hedgehog Populations in Decline
Hedgehog numbers across the UK have fallen sharply since 2000, with populations dropping by as much as 75% in rural areas. Urban areas have surprisingly emerged as sanctuaries for the small mammals, and Attenborough expresses genuine cause for optimism that they could start appearing more widely once again.
In the clip, a hedgehog is seen eating food left out by a human, while Attenborough explains: "Hedgehogs can eat up to 100 grams of food in a night, and that can take quite a lot of collecting. But this one has hit the jackpot. Every evening, the owner of this garden provides a feast for them. Tonight he's searching for a mate, and he'll need all the energy he can find."
Creating a Hedgehog Highway
Attenborough notes that London boasts more gardens per square mile than any other capital city, yet hedgehogs face one significant obstacle: gardens are typically enclosed by solid fences, leaving hedgehogs unable to roam freely. "All across London, garden owners are putting holes in their fences, creating hedgehog highways that allow safe travel from garden to garden," he says.
Creating a hedgehog highway is straightforward. Gardeners can mark out a 13cm x 13cm square (roughly the size of a CD case) at the bottom of a fence panel at ground level, then use a small saw or knife to cut out the marked square. Smoothing the rough-cut edges with sandpaper prevents hedgehogs from grazing themselves. It's also worth encouraging neighbours to do the same in their own gardens.
For different fence styles, other options include removing a brick from the base of a brick fence, or, if there is a concrete gravel board, digging a channel beneath it or core-drilling a hole straight through it.
