Numbers have fallen by over a third over last 10 years
Autumn is a busy time in the garden for wildlife, as hibernating creatures such as hedgehogs prepare for the winter months ahead.
The People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) and British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) have together produced a free seasonal guide on how to make your autumn garden hedgehog-friendly: The A-Z of Autumn Hedgehog Tips.
Hedgehogs are in disastrous decline, with numbers falling by more than a third over the last 10 years. Our gardens and urban green spaces provide a vital habitat for them to thrive in, and creating a welcoming environment doesn’t have to be difficult or time-consuming: the guide offers advice and easy practical tips for all the family, whether green-fingered or not.
Here are three top tips drawn from the guide:
H is for Hibernacula, the nests in which hedgehogs will hibernate. These can be in log piles, compost heaps, patches of brush or in a specially built hedgehog nest box.
O is for Old and decaying wood. Creating a wood pile in your garden will not only provide an important habitat for insects, which hedgehogs can then feed on, but also a safe, secure site for nesting or hibernation.
G is for Gardens, a great habitat for hedgehogs. With almost half a million hectares of gardens in Britain, they are an important refuge.
Henry Johnson, Hedgehog Officer at PTES says: “Autumn can be a fairly frantic time in the garden for humans and wildlife alike, as the mild weather means there’s still time to prepare for the harsh months ahead. My top tip to help hedgehogs this autumn is to link up your garden with your neighbours’, by making sure hedgehogs can pass between boundaries through small gaps or holes in fences. They can then forage for food, store up their fat reserves, and find suitable shelter before going into hibernation.”
Visit www.hedgehogstreet.org for your free copy of the complete A-Z of Autumn Hedgehog Tips.
24th October 2013