Carrying out this one task in the garden will help hedgehogs this spring
Gardeners urged to drill holes in their fences before the end of March(Image: scu)
Householders are being encouraged to cut out part of their garden fences this spring to give a helping hand to one of the UK’s much-loved native species which is now increasingly under threat. Wildlife experts are calling upon people to create small holes in the bases of fences to coincide with the time hedgehogs emerge from hibernation.
The spiky creatures tend to come out of their winter slumber between mid-March and early April, when they can find life a bit of a struggle. Openings in garden boundaries, including small spaces made in hedges, can be vital in helping them get around.
These so-called ‘hedgehog highways’ can provide a protected passage for hedgehogs as they seek food and shelter while avoiding hazards. And the more gaps and openings there are through hedges and fences, the better the animals will be able to navigate a network of safe corridors without running the risk of injury on the roads.
Anton Baskerville, a wildlife expert at Woodlands.co.uk, said: “Hedgehogs like to roam large distances to find food, mates and nesting sites,” reports The Mirror. “In urban environments, fences, walls and other barriers can limit their movement, making it harder for them to meet these basic needs.
Woodlands Animal Sanctuary are advising on how to help a hedgehog in need(Image: Southport Visiter)
“A hedgehog highway enables them to safely travel between gardens and other habitats, greatly improving their chances of survival and reproduction.” Hedgehogs are officially recognised as vulnerable to extinction throughout Britain, with their numbers having plummeted, especially in rural areas, due to the loss of natural habitats, road traffic accidents and dwindling food supplies.
So, help from those with gardens can be vital. And creating a hedgehog highway does not take away much of a fence or hedge.
Specialists at Thomson Environmental Consultants, an environmental consultancy firm, recommends a suitable size for the hole. “Creating a CD-case-sized gap in garden fences allows hedgehogs to move freely between gardens,” they say.
Gardeners urged to drill holes in their fences before the end of March (Image: mtreasure via Getty Images)
“By coordinating with your neighbours, you can establish a connected network of gardens and mark gaps to raise awareness.” Those with gardens are no doubt looking forward to the first of the grass but they are again being asked to keep hedgehogs in mind and to check none is resting there before doing so.
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