There’s something quietly magical about spotting a hedgehog snuffling through the garden at dusk. With their tiny snouts, gentle eyes and the soft shuffle of paws in the undergrowth, they’re one of the UK’s most-loved wild visitors.
All the hedgehog photos in this post were taken in my own garden, right in the heart of the Brecon Beacons National Park. I feel incredibly lucky to share this space with these wonderful little creatures, and even luckier to have captured some of their visits on camera.
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But despite their charm, hedgehogs are having a tough time and they really need our help.
Numbers have plummeted in recent decades, and it’s estimated that we’ve lost around half of our native hedgehogs since 2000. Loss of habitat, busy roads, pesticides and increasingly tidy gardens have made life harder for these little mammals. Now more than ever, every patch of hedgehog friendly space matters.
Why Are Hedgehogs Struggling?
The short version? It’s tough out there. Hedgehogs rely on connected, overgrown spaces to forage, nest and raise their young. But today, they’re navigating a patchwork of fenced-off gardens, roads, and overmanaged landscapes. Fewer hedgerows and less insect-rich ground means less food. Add in slug pellets, uncovered drains, and steep-sided ponds, and it’s easy to see why they’re disappearing from places they once thrived.
And with summer in full swing, especially during warm spells like we’ve had recently, water becomes just as vital as food. Dehydration can be deadly, particularly for busy mums and youngsters trying to fatten up before autumn.
What You Can Do to Help
If you’ve got a garden, a balcony, or even just a doorstep, you can make a difference. Here are a few simple things I’m doing, and you can too:
Let the Overgrowth Be
Leave a quiet corner a bit messy. Log piles, leaves and long grass offer perfect shelter for hedgehogs and their prey. If you’re feeling crafty, you can even build a hedgehog house. There are lots of easy guides online.
Water Is Life
A shallow bowl of fresh water can be a lifesaver in hot weather. I keep one topped up near the edge of the garden, where it’s quiet and shaded.
If you’ve got a pond or water feature, make sure there’s a ramp or a gentle slope so hedgehogs can climb out if they fall in. Even something simple like a piece of wood or a pile of stones at the edge could make all the difference.
Dinner Time – What to Feed?
If you’d like to leave food out, go for meaty cat or kitten food. Wet or dry is fine, just avoid fish-flavoured options. We often use Burgess dry kitten food, and Tesco’s dry kitten food is another great budget-friendly option. Avoid bread, milk, or mealworms, as they can actually harm hedgehogs.
To stop unwanted visitors like cats, foxes or rats pinching the food (or scaring off the hedgehogs), we now use the Cat and Rat Deterrent Hedgehog Feeding Station from Little Field Country Crafts, available directly through their Facebook page. It’s sturdy, easy to clean and keeps the food dry and secure.
That said, if you’re on a budget or fancy a bit of DIY, a simple plastic storage box with a hedgehog sized entrance hole works too. Just make sure it’s weatherproof and placed somewhere quiet. There are plenty of easy guides online to help you get started.
Hedgehog Highways
One of the biggest barriers for hedgehogs is… well, actual barriers. A small gap (around 13cm square) at the base of a fence can connect your garden to others, letting hedgehogs roam freely in search of food and mates.
Ditch the Chemicals
Pesticides and slug pellets can poison hedgehogs or wipe out their food supply. Try wildlife-friendly gardening instead. Companion planting, beer traps for slugs, or just letting nature do its thing can all help.
Check Before You Strim
Hedgehogs curl up tightly when scared, which sadly makes them vulnerable to garden tools. Always check long grass and bonfire piles before you mow or light anything.
Lift the Nets
If you’ve got football goals, garden netting or anything similar outdoors, be sure to lift or store them safely when not in use. Hedgehogs can easily become tangled and trapped, especially overnight when they’re most active. Sadly, many don’t survive once caught, so a quick check or tidy-up in the evening can make all the difference.
Watch and Learn
If you’re curious to see who’s visiting, consider setting up a small wildlife camera. We use Blink Mini Outdoor cameras, and they are brilliant for catching late-night hedgehog antics. It’s such a fun way to keep track of regular visitors and see what time they come or whether they’re eating the food you’ve left out.
Final Thoughts
I feel incredibly lucky every time I spot a hedgehog in the garden. They’re gentle, inquisitive, and such a joy to watch. But knowing how fragile their future is makes each sighting a little more precious.
And here’s something most people don’t realise. Hedgehogs can actually run! Not just a little scurry either. They’re surprisingly fast when they want to be. I remember the first time I saw one properly sprinting across the lawn… I had no idea they could move like that.
By making small changes, we can all give hedgehogs a better chance to thrive. And trust me, there’s nothing quite like seeing one waddling (or sprinting!) across the lawn at dusk, safe and wild and exactly where it belongs.
Help and advice
Useful Links
Looking to learn more or need advice about caring for hedgehogs? These brilliant organisations offer trusted information, rescue support and ways to get involved. Whether you’ve found an injured hedgehog or want to make your garden more wildlife friendly, they’re a great place to start:
British Hedgehog Preservation Society
Glamorgan Hedgehog Rescue — where we take any injured hedgehogs or ask for advice
Gower Bird Hospital — another great place for care and advice
