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Ten
top tips for hedgehog welfare and encouraging them into
your garden from the British Hedgehog Preservation Society
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1. Keep a corner of your garden wild to offer shelter,
protection and natural food for hedgehogs and other
wildlife. Encourage wildlife into your garden, but you
should never just move one in from another area, as it may
well have a nest of dependent young that you would be
condemning to death. If you think your area is suitable
for hedgehogs yet you do not appear to have any, it may be
worth contacting a local hedgehog care centre who could
possibly use your garden as a release site for
rehabilitated hedgehogs.
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2. Avoid using pesticides and slug pellets in your garden.
Not only can these harm hedgehogs but also damage their
food chain. Use organic methods instead. You could try a
‘beer trap’, a small pot filled with beer and sunk in
the ground, or the skin of half a grapefruit placed on the
ground like a dome. Precious plants can be protected with
crushed egg shells or sharp sand placed in a circle around
the base.
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| 3. Provide a
shallow dish of fresh water for all wildlife, and food
such as meat based pet food or unsweetened museli for
hedgehogs, especially during long dry spells. Prevent cats
from stealing the food by creating a hedgehog feeding
station. Get a blue plastic mushroom box (from
supermarket) or plastic storage box, and cut a 13cm x 13cm
(5” x 5”) hole in one of the short sides so that when
the box is upside down the hole forms an entrance. Place a
brick on the box to stop it being moved away and put the
food at the back of the box. If necessary put a brick
about 13cm (5”) away from any feeding station entrance
to stop cats lying down and reaching in with their paws.
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| 4. Make or buy a hedgehog home, this offers a hibernation
site safe from predators in the winter. It may also be
used as a nesting box for a mother and her hoglets in the
warmer months. The hoglets stay in the nest for four weeks
after they are born, after that you will see them out of
the nest with mum for a further four weeks, at eight weeks
old they are fully weaned and will wonder off to find nest
sites of their own. The British Hedgehog Preservation
Society can provide a leaflet on building a hedgehog
home.
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5. Gardeners take care. Check areas thoroughly for
hedgehogs and other wildlife before strimming or mowing.
Keep pea netting 22-30cms (9 - 12") off the ground so
hedgehogs can pass under and plants will grow to the
netting. Start a compost heap; birds will feed off the
mini-beasts that congregate in a compost heap, as will
hedgehogs and toads that may nest in it. A word of warning
though before using the compost test the base and sides
gently for sleeping wildlife. Hedgehogs will repay you for
your concern by eating your slugs and snails!
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6. Dispose of litter responsibly. Every year hedgehogs are
injured by litter and starve to death by getting trapped
in discarded rubbish. Their inquisitiveness can get them
into trouble as they get their heads get stuck in various
kinds of containers - empty food cans, yoghurt cups,
plastic mugs etc. Perhaps even more deadly are the plastic
rings that hold cans together; wildlife can get trapped in
them. Always make sure each circle is cut. What better
reasons could there be for always picking up our litter?
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7. Bonfires offer a tempting home for a hedgehog, ideally
collected materials should be re-sited just before the
fire is to be lit, if this is not possible, the base
should be lifted up with poles or broom handles and a
torch shone in to look for any wildlife or pets in need of
rescue before lighting. Single hedgehogs found can be
moved. Use gardening gloves to pick the hedgehog up and
pop it into a box. It can be released when the fire is
totally cooled down. If you come across a nest with babies
in it, quietly put the materials back and leave the nest
well alone. Keep an eye on the site as the mother may
abandon or even kill young if a nest is disturbed. If it
seems the mother is not returning to the nest call the
British Hedgehog Preservation Society Helpline on 01584
890 801.
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8. Hedgehogs are good swimmers but can become trapped in
ponds or pools with sheer sides. Keep water levels topped
up, provide a gently sloping edge if possible or place
half submerged rocks in the water as an escape for them.
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9. Cattle grids can be a problem, hedgehogs fall in and
become trapped, a simple ramp placed in the grid will save
lives. It can be made of concrete, approx 8" wide, or
of wood or metal. The surface should be allowed to remain
rough to enable the escapee to gain a foothold. If it is
impossible for an animal to gain access to the whole of
the pit i.e. if it is sectionalised, more than one
"ramp" would be required. Similarly in a very
large cattle/sheep grid, two ramps would be preferable.
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10. Finally, take care on the roads, hedgehogs are
nocturnal so are often seen out at night. A hedgehog’s
natural defence mechanism is to roll into a ball. This is
no match for a motor vehicle. All nature-loving people
want to do something about this. So, do drive carefully,
especially at night, do all you can to avoid hedgehogs
which may be crossing the road and, if it is safe to do
so, stop and assist hedgehogs to get across quickly.
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| For more information contact the
British Hedgehog Preservation
Society |
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Oak
/ Birch / Larch Hedgehog House |
| Hedgehogs will
eat almost anything they come across in the garden, though
they prefer beetles, worms and slugs. So why have a
hedgehog house? Well apart from the fact that they will
help keep the slug population down, only 75% of hedgehogs
survive from one year to the next. This is usually due to
insufficient safe habitat, though other reasons include
the use of poison, slug pellets, general pesticides,
strimmers and bonfires. |
| The hedgehog
house is made from durable timbers with a double skinned
roof for insulation and weather protection. The timber
floor is raised to keep the damp out and the house can
withstand crushing and strimming. |
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Hedgehog House |
| Made
from FSC sustainable wood, it has an integral tunnel to
provide protection from predators and a removable roof so
you can give it an annual spring clean. Measures 49cm
(19") wide x 42cm (16½") deep x 26.5cm (10½")
high. |
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Willow
Hedgehog House |
| Handmade from
quality willow, this woven hibernation basket has been
specifically designed to provide the perfect environment
for overwintering hedgehogs. Place in a secluded corner
where it will remain undisturbed until spring. |
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Bronze
Hedgehogs (Ornaments) |
| Who can resist
these wonderfully detailed sculptures of cute hedgehogs?
Made from cast-bronze, they're perfect for adding a touch
of humour alongside the patio or in a sunny corner of the
garden. |
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Hedgehog
Doorbell |
| A charming aged
door bell made out of cast iron that can be put on the
back or front of the house. It provides a clear loud ring
to let youn know when guests have arrived. It's treated
against rust and is varnished to protect it against the
weather for it to last longer. |
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Hedgehog
Niblets |
| A specially
formulated feed to supplement the natural diet of the
british hedgehog which is high in protein.Packed with
peanuts, flour, suet, fruit and cereal. |
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Cast
Iron Hedgehog Doormat |
| This
hedgehog isn't just a pretty face; his coir bristles make
short work of all but the muddiest of boots. Set in cast
iron. 45x72cm. |
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Henry
the Hedgehog Boot Brush |
| Tough
bristles on this heavyweight cast iron hedgehog boot brush
should ensure clean carpets from now on, and he looks cute
too. 26x17x17cm high. |
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Hedgehog
Houses & Hibernation Boxes
-
Quality oak, larch or willow hedgehog houses. Made from
durable timbers with a double skinned roof for
insulation and weather protection. |
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British
Hedgehog Preservation Society
- A UK Charity
dedicated to helping & protecting Hedgehogs (BHPS).
Helpline with advice on caring & encouraging Hedgehogs in
the wild & garden. |
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Wildlife
Aid (Adopt a Hedgehog)
- Reg Charity No. 297610 - Their aim is to help redress the
balance between man and nature and to play our part in
preserving our heritage for future generations to enjoy. |
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Prickly
Ball Farm Hedgehog Hospital
- Prickly Ball farm is a busy 'hands on'
hedgehog hospital and wildlife garden centre where you can
meet, touch, and learn about hedgehogs and much, much more. |
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St.
Tiggywinkles Wildlife Hospital
- Caring for sick & injured hedgehogs, badgers, wild
birds, foxes, even reptiles & amphibians. |
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Hedgehog
News - Read
the latest news stories about hedgehogs from the BBC. |
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