Why Hedgehogs Need a Helping Hand

Hedgehogs are one of Britain's best-loved garden visitors, but their numbers have fallen sharply over the past few decades. The reasons are many: busy roads, tidier gardens, the loss of hedgerows and, crucially, the way we fence off our outdoor spaces. A hedgehog might travel a kilometre or more in a single night in search of food, shelter and a mate. If every garden it tries to enter is sealed by a solid fence or a brick wall, that journey becomes an exhausting obstacle course.

The good news is that the solution is wonderfully simple. By creating a small gap in your boundary and, if you like, adding a short tunnel, you can turn your garden into part of a "hedgehog highway" — a chain of connected green spaces that lets these prickly travellers move safely from one plot to the next.

What Exactly Is a Hedgehog Highway?

A hedgehog highway is simply a series of connected gardens and green spaces linked by small openings at ground level. Hedgehogs are creatures of habit, and they will happily use the same route night after night if it stays clear. One garden on its own can only support so much wildlife; a whole street of connected gardens becomes a proper habitat.

The key requirement is a gap of about 13 centimetres (roughly 5 inches) square. That is large enough for a full-grown hedgehog to pass through comfortably but small enough to discourage most pets and to keep young children safely contained. If you have a hedgehog visiting already, watch where it noses along the base of your fence — that is usually the best spot for a gap.

Making a Gap in a Fence or Wall

If you have a wooden panel fence, the job can take less than half an hour. Choose a spot near a corner or beside a border where the hole will be less conspicuous, then use a saw to cut a neat square from the bottom edge of a panel. Sand the cut edges and treat them with a wood preservative that is safe for wildlife once dry.

• Wooden fences: Cut a 13cm square notch at the base, or lift a panel slightly and fix it in place to leave a gap underneath.
• Concrete or brick walls: Removing a single brick often leaves a gap of just the right size. If the wall is load-bearing, take advice before you start.
• Chain-link or wire fencing: Simply snip and fold back a section of mesh, then bend the cut ends inwards so nothing sharp is left exposed.
• Hedges: Trim a low arch at ground level to keep a clear route through the base of the hedge.

Once the gap is open, check it from a hedgehog's point of view. Is the ground flat and free of trip hazards? Are there any sharp edges, exposed nails or loose wires? A little tidying now saves an injured animal later.

Adding a Safe Tunnel

Sometimes a gap alone is not practical — perhaps you share a fence with a neighbour who is not keen on a hole, or you want to guide hedgehogs beneath a gate. This is where a tunnel comes in. You can buy ready-made hedgehog tunnels, but a simple homemade version works just as well.

A length of plastic drainpipe about 13 to 15 centimetres in diameter is ideal, laid flat at ground level through the gap. Cut it slightly longer than the thickness of the fence or wall so it protrudes on both sides, then secure it so it cannot roll or be pushed aside. Line the bottom with a little soil or dry leaves so hedgehogs have something to grip.

If you would rather not use plastic, you can build a short tunnel from untreated timber battens and a flat roof, or simply place a couple of heavy paving slabs on their sides to form a corridor. Whatever you choose, make sure the tunnel is stable, has no sharp interior edges, and stays dark and dry inside.

Keeping the Route Safe and Inviting

A highway is only useful if it is safe to use. Hedgehogs are nocturnal and rely heavily on smell, so a few thoughtful touches will encourage them to keep coming back.

• Leave a wild corner: A patch of long grass, a log pile or a compost heap gives hedgehogs somewhere to forage and nest.
• Provide water: A shallow dish of fresh water at ground level is a lifeline in dry spells. Never leave out milk or bread — both are harmful.
• Check before you cut: Strimmers and mowers injure thousands of hedgehogs each year. Walk the garden first, and always check long grass before trimming.
• Mind the ponds: Add a gently sloping stone or a ramp so any hedgehog that falls in can climb out.
• Be slug-pellet savvy: Metaldehyde slug pellets are lethal to hedgehogs. Try beer traps, nematodes or simply encouraging birds and frogs instead.
• Watch the bonfire: Move piles of wood and leaves before lighting them, and ideally rebuild the pile on the day you burn.

Getting Your Neighbours Involved

One gap is a start, but a true highway needs a few gardens in a row. A friendly word over the fence is often all it takes — most people are delighted to help once they understand how easy it is. You could suggest a coordinated effort along your street, with each household cutting one small gap at roughly the same height.

It is worth mapping your route on paper first. Look at where fences meet, note any walls or roads that might block the way, and plan gaps that link your garden to the next. Even two or three connected gardens make a real difference, and the more neighbours who join in, the stronger the network becomes.

A hedgehog highway costs almost nothing and takes very little time, yet it can transform your garden into a genuine sanctuary. Cut a gap, add a tunnel if you fancy, keep the route safe, and you will soon be playing host to one of Britain's most charming and endangered creatures.