New research has revealed that 41% of Brits have never seen a hedgehog in their garden, while 15% of homeowners have found one trapped and unable to escape. The findings come from a campaign by Dino Decking, which is urging people to make a simple change to help the beloved species, now officially classified as vulnerable to extinction on the UK Red List.
Critical months for hedgehogs
September and October are especially critical months for hedgehogs, as they hunt for food to build essential fat stores before winter hibernation. Estimates show that the UK's historical population of over 30 million in the 1950s has collapsed to fewer than one million. The Western European and Long-eared varieties are struggling.
Specialists caution that one of the greatest dangers confronting the species is surprisingly near to home: our gardens. Once able to roam freely at night throughout neighbourhoods in search of food, shelter and partners, hedgehogs are increasingly finding their paths obstructed by fencing, walls and enclosed outdoor areas.
What is a hedgehog highway?
This habitat fragmentation leaves hedgehogs isolated from the resources they require to survive and compels them to undertake longer, more perilous journeys, often crossing busy roads. To boost public understanding of the problem, Dino Decking is unveiling a new campaign video alongside Julia Sixsmith, a hedgehog rescue specialist and founder of Hindley Hedgehog Help.
The initiative highlights the importance of 'hedgehog highways', demonstrating how one minor alteration to your back garden could prove vital. Making small openings in fences enables hedgehogs to move safely from garden to garden, giving them access to the food, shelter and potential mates essential for their survival. The drive follows research showing that knowledge of hedgehog highways is still surprisingly low, with 41% of Brits confessing they'd never encountered the term before.
How to make a hedgehog highway
The Wildlife Trusts recommend simply cutting 13cm x 13cm openings at the base of boundary fences or garden gates. Speak to your neighbour beforehand to secure their permission before altering a shared boundary. Sand down any jagged or sharp edges using sandpaper. Fix a small hedgehog highway sign beside the opening so future homeowners understand the need to maintain it.
Despite tipping the scales at barely more than a bag of sugar, hedgehogs can cover up to 2km each night. Julia explains that fitting a hedgehog highway is among the most practical ways to help hedgehogs thrive. To encourage wider uptake, Dino Decking has introduced a new Hedgehog Highway panel that can be incorporated into compatible fencing products free of charge, enabling hedgehogs to travel safely between gardens via specially designed access points. As part of the scheme, the firm will distribute 5,000 complimentary Hedgehog Highways to both new and existing customers in the coming months.
Making your garden hedgehog-friendly
Leave fresh water out. A shallow dish of clean water can provide a valuable resource, particularly during warm weather. Avoid milk – you should never give hedgehogs milk because they are lactose intolerant. According to the RSPCA, milk cannot be properly digested by hedgehogs and can cause severe health issues, including diarrhoea, dehydration, and even death.
Reduce pesticide use, as pesticides can reduce the insects and invertebrates that hedgehogs depend on for food. Create shelter with log piles, leaf piles and dedicated hedgehog houses to provide safe places to rest and hibernate. Let parts of your garden grow wild, as allowing some areas to grow naturally creates habitat for insects and other wildlife. Make ponds safe by ensuring they include a gentle slope or escape route to prevent wildlife from becoming trapped. Always inspect long grass, hedges and overgrown areas before using garden machinery.
Expert comments
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."
"Hedgehogs can roam surprisingly long distances, but they can't climb over fences or dig beneath solid walls, so Hedgehog Highway gaps at the base of walls and fences are vital to ensure they can reach the habitat and resources they need to thrive in the wild. If you're lucky enough to spot hedgehogs in your garden, you can log sightings, as well as register the highways you make, at www.BigHedgehogMap.org".
Richard King, Co-Founder of Dino Decking, commented: "Hedgehogs are one of Britain's most-loved garden visitors, but sadly they're becoming harder and harder to spot. It's difficult to imagine future generations growing up without ever seeing one in their garden, which is why we wanted to do something practical to help."
"By providing Hedgehog Highways as a free addition to our compatible fence panels, we hope to make it easier for people to make space in their gardens for wildlife and help Britain's hedgehogs find their way home."
