Hedgehogs are among the UK's best-loved wild animals, but spotting one in the garden is becoming less common. Research commissioned by outdoor living company Dino Decking found 41 per cent of people surveyed had never seen a hedgehog in their garden, while 12 per cent had not spotted one for more than a year.
What are Hedgehog Highways?
The firm has launched a campaign promoting so-called 'Hedgehog Highways', small openings at the bottom of fences and walls that let the animals move between gardens. The idea is supported by the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, which recommends creating gaps measuring around 13cm by 13cm.
Hedgehogs can travel up to 2km in a single night, according to the Royal Horticultural Society, as they search for food and places to shelter. But enclosed gardens can leave them cut off from the wider habitat they need, potentially forcing them to take longer routes and encounter more hazards.
Why gaps are vital
Fay Vass, Chief Executive of the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, said: "Sadly, hedgehogs are a species on the edge of real trouble, but making Hedgehog Highways a part of your garden is a simple action which can have a huge impact for these amazing spiny mammals."
She added that hedgehogs cannot climb over fences or dig beneath solid walls, making gaps at the base of boundaries important for reaching the resources they need. Anyone planning to make a hole should speak to their neighbour first and check the boundary can be altered safely.
Other ways to help hedgehogs
There are other ways to make a garden more welcoming, too, including leaving a wild corner, providing a shallow dish of fresh water and checking for wildlife before mowing or strimming. The British Hedgehog Preservation Society also warns that ponds without escape routes and low garden netting can put hedgehogs at risk.
Dino Decking says it is offering 5,000 free Hedgehog Highway panels to new and existing customers with compatible fencing, as part of its campaign. However, homeowners do not need a specialist product to help, as a suitable opening in an existing fence can also provide a route through.
People who spot hedgehogs or create a highway can record their sightings and routes through the Big Hedgehog Map at BigHedgehogMap.org. With autumn a key period for hedgehogs to build up reserves before winter, connecting gardens can be a useful step towards making neighbourhoods safer for wildlife.
