Please let me in
Reassuringly, helping hedgehogs is easy. They just need access to lots and lots of gardens - more than just a street or large park. There are lots of really small changes that we can make to our gardens that will make a huge difference.
Something you can do straight away:
Most important:
- Allow hedgehogs access to your garden. An opening about the size of a CD is adequate either under / through a gate or fence. Link to your neighbour's garden if possible. (At City Point under the gate is generally more practical).
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Do not use slug pellets - these can poison the hedgehogs.
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Check for hedgehogs before using a strimmer or mowing. (Srimmer injuries generally are the most worrying.)
- Check for hedgehogs before lighting a bonfire.
- Drive carefully, especially at night or very early in the morning when there may be hedgehogs wandering around our streets.
Other ways:
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Ask your postman not to drop elastic bands. (Hedgehogs become entangled).
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Make ponds
safe (shallow edges with a
ramp).
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Make a log
pile in a quiet corner of the garden.
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Let part of your garden grow wild.
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Build a hedgehog a home.
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Leave water out at night (not milk).
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Feed hedgehogs at night. Hedgehogs love mealworms and meaty products.
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Avoid using chemicals in your garden. Use environmentally safe products if chemicals cannot be avoided.
- Avoid netting up to 12" (30cm) above the ground.
Volunteer to help this campaign:
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Put up a hedgehog poster. (In your window or in public places that will allow you to do so). Click here for poster or contact
us.
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Join the City Point LitterAction
group, "Prickly about
Litter".
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Get others involved, either in City Point
or start a campaign in another area.
- Distribute leaflets. Contact us.
Use a surveillance / trail type camera to check your progress. Hedgehogs will only visit when dark. Contact us if you wish a camera to be set up in your garden overnight.