Help The Hedgehogs

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Over the past decade the number of hedgehogs has dropped by a third, and this loss is part of a long-term decline. It is estimated that in the 1950s we had 30million of these prickly but cute nocturnal animals. Today, approximately one million remain. So what has caused this sharp fall and what can we do to help the remaining hedgehogs thrive?

Although some hedgehogs die on our roads, the rise in the number of their predator – the badger – did not help. The use of pesticides in agriculture leads to a drop in many species of insects, and insects are among a hedgehog’s favourite diet staples. In addition to insects, hedgehogs also eat beetles, earthworms, frogs and toads, as well as grass roots, berries, mushrooms and bird eggs, even that perennial garden pest, the slug.

Therefore if the population of hedgehogs is dropping sharply, it points to a wider problem in the ecosystem. Making our gardens more wildlife friendly gives the hedgehog’s diet a significant boost, and this means relaxing slightly our obsession with immaculate gardens and manicured lawns. Tempting as it may be to spray every last daisy peeking out of a pristine lawn, think how you would feel if someone came to your fridge at night and sprayed your cottage pie with poison.

Did you know that Germany has lost three quarters of their rural insects in the last 25 years? This means butterflies, wasps and bees, not just the annoying mosquitos and flies. The German study was originally prompted by anecdotal evidence of declining numbers of bugs splattered on car windscreens. Why is this important? Flying insects pollinate crops, so they are crucial to growing food, but for insects to thrive, they need meadows full of wild flowers. The vast fields of intensively farmed land have little to offer to their wellbeing. Adding to the problem are the disappearing hedgerows that make way for new roads and houses, thus forming ideal conditions for fewer bugs, declining wildlife, and the disappearing hedgehog population. The scale of this loss hasprompted scientists to warn about our world marching towards ecological Armageddon.

We can all help by supporting wildlife and sustainable farming methods in any way we can, and this is one more reason to buy our fruit and vegetables from local farms.

To further help the hedgehog’s survival, we can encourage hedgehog-friendly habitats in our gardens. They love sheltered places such as hedgerows, but also piles of leaves under the hedges and heaps of logs or twigs, so resist the urge to tidy up every corner of the garden.

In town and city gardens, where you may only have a wooden fence on both sides, creating a small hole about a size of a CD is crucial. Hedgehogs cover some mileage in their search for food, and enabling them to roam from garden to garden helps in their search of shelter and a varied diet. Should you find a hedgehog trapped in a small garden with a uniform, weed-free lawn, help the hedgehog pop across to the neighbours for some different flavoured insects, it might feel like a steak night!

Did You Know?

• Hedgehogs can live for 2 to 7 years, depending on the species.

• The hedgehog’s spines are not poisonous or barbed.

• Hedgehog does not have a fight-or-flight response, but it has a protective mechanism that enables it to roll into a tight ball.

• They are mostly nocturnal animals and sleep throughout the day – under bushes, rocks, piles of leaves, or in dens dug in the ground.

For tips on how to help encourage hedgehogs in your garden watch this video from www.wildlifegardenproject.com

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