Encourage homeowners to aid hedgehogs in combating heat by implementing these 3 garden modifications:
In the face of increasingly hotter weather, it's essential to make our gardens more welcoming to our prickly, nocturnal friends - hedgehogs. By adopting a few budget-friendly measures, you can transform your garden into a hedgehog haven, providing them with the necessary shelter, food, and water they need to survive during heatwaves.
**1. Provide Shelter and Hiding Spots**
Gather logs and branches to create a sheltered area, offering hedgehogs a cool place to hide from the heat. Hedgehogs also love leaf piles, which can serve as both shelter and a source of insects to eat.
**2. Ensure Access and Connectivity**
Cut a CD-sized hole in your fence to allow hedgehogs to move freely between gardens. This is crucial for their survival and access to food and water.
**3. Offer Food and Water**
Provide a shallow dish of fresh water for hedgehogs to drink and cool off in. Avoid using milk, as it's harmful to hedgehogs. Offer hedgehog-friendly foods like chopped fruits (e.g., apples) and insects. Remember to avoid using slug pellets, as hedgehogs can eat the poisoned slugs.
**4. Plant Wildlife-Friendly Plants**
Plant flowers that attract insects, such as lavender, thyme, and catmint. These will provide a source of food for hedgehogs. Incorporate native plants that offer shelter and food for hedgehogs.
**5. Maintain a Suitable Environment**
Create damp areas or a small pond with a shallow slope to provide a cooling spot for hedgehogs. Refrain from using pesticides, which can harm hedgehogs and other wildlife.
## Budget-Friendly Tips
Utilize recycled materials for shelters and planters. Consider collaborating with local gardening groups to share resources and ideas. Instead of spending money, volunteer time to help create a community-wide hedgehog-friendly environment.
Placing water dishes near natural cover or beside the entrance to a hedgehog house improves accessibility. Dense native shrubs or hedging provide cooler zones and encourage natural nesting behaviour. Well-chosen plants like lavender, thyme, heather, sedum, and drought-tolerant, wildlife-friendly plants offer shelter and attract insects that hedgehogs feed on.
By implementing these measures, you can create a hedgehog-friendly garden that supports their survival during heatwaves without breaking the bank. Sharon Jacobs, senior nurse at wildlife hospital Tiggywinkles, advises taking care when mowing or hedge-cutting to prevent injuries to hedgehogs. If you have a pond, ensure there's a sloped edge or escape ramp so hedgehogs can climb out safely.
With a little effort, you can make a significant difference in helping these charming creatures survive the heatwaves. So, let's roll up our sleeves, get our gardening gloves on, and create a hedgehog haven!
- To further enhance your garden's appeal for hedgehogs, consider incorporating sustainable-living practices such as gardening with native plants that promote biodiversity.
- For a more welcoming ambiance, paint your outdoor doors in colors that complement your home-and-garden decor while also attracting butterflies, which are an additional source of food for hedgehogs.
- By adhering to a sustainable-living lifestyle, you can minimize the carbon footprint of your garden, making it an inviting environment not only for hedgehogs, but for various other wildlife as well.
- As days grow warmer, ensure proper heating for your home, especially at night, as a cool home provides a comfortable respite for these nocturnal animals.
- To save on costs, implement plans for energy-efficient heating solutions, such as installing double-glazed windows or insulating your roof, thereby providing a warm home and contributing to a smaller environmental footprint.
- You can also consult home-and-garden design guides to create a cohesive layout that harmoniously combines hedgehog-friendly elements with your desired lifestyle preferences.
