The British Hedgehog Society Hedgehog Awareness Week runs from 30th – 6th May and this year it aims to raise the profile of Britain’s only spiny mammal which has found itself on the Red List for British Mammals in recognition of its vulnerable status.
So, the Charity is campaigning to get people to create their own Hedgehog Haven! We can make Hedgehog’s lives so much easier with really very little effort. All Week the Charity has been giving out tips on their social media accounts using #hedgehogweek.
There are so many things that we can do to help Hedgehogs, here are a few:
- Make sure hedgehogs can access your garden with a ‘Hedgehog Highway’ a 13 x 13cm square gap in the bottom of fences or walls should do it! Once created you can log these on the BIG Hedgehog Map at www.bighedgehogmap.org
- Create a log pile that will offer shelter and natural food.
- Build a Hedgehog Home. Find some ideas here: www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/hedgehog-homes
- Move piles of rubbish to a new site on the day you are burning it and check it carefully before setting light to it, lighting from only one side so that there is an escape route should you have missed anything.
- Check areas carefully before mowing or strimming.
- Ensure netting is kept at a height that allows hedgehogs to pass safely under it.
- Check compost heaps carefully before digging the fork in.
- Stop using pesticides and poisons.
- Cover drains or deep holes.
- Ensure there is an easy route out of ponds & pools.