Hedgehog Houses
Difficulty rating
Materials
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If you are buying: Hedgehog houses can be purchased from reputable suppliers such as Ark Wildlife and the RSPB.
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To make: Hedgehog houses can be made from untreated wood (eg. 20mm FSC plywood boards) and roofing felt (optional). See useful links for plans of how to make your own hedgehog house. They can also be made from old boxes such as a wooden wine crate, with additional wood to make a tunnel. They can then be covered with leaves or logs to make them look as natural as possible.
Indicative Costs
Hedgehog houses typically cost between £30 to £60, with some more expensive models up to £120.
Leaving piles of natural nesting materials is free and will benefit a range of wildlife.
Method
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Put out any time of year, but April and October are the best months - either side of hibernation.
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Place in a quiet shaded corner, against a hedge, bank or fence and should face south or southwesterly to avoid cold winds entering. Let the area around it grow wild to provide shelter, privacy and habitat for insects. You can give them a head start by adding natural bedding such as fallen leaves.
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In autumn hedgehogs collect leaves, grass, straw etc. to build nests under hedgerows, fallen logs or piles of brushwood. By leaving piles of leaves, logs and twigs in a quiet corners of the school grounds, we can provide natural hedgehog habitat, providing a warm, dry and secluded place for them to nest in and hibernate (see also our page on creating dead wood piles).
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Make sure hedgehogs have easy access to your school grounds, ensure boundary fences have a 13cm x 13cm gap in the bottom to allow hedgehogs to pass through.
Benefits
The number of hedgehogs in Britain has been in decline for over two decades. 2020 saw hedgehogs classified as vulnerable to extinction as large-scale agriculture replaces hedgerows and trees, destroying their natural habitat. Combined with pesticides killing off the hedgehog's natural diet of slugs, worms and insects, an increase in road construction and a lack of wild gardens, there's many threats to the hedgehog population. Without a safe place to shelter and a reliable food source, hedgehogs are unable to hibernate through the colder months. Clearing out a space for a hedgehog house in your garden can provide a secure habitat where hedgehogs are able to sleep, nest and hibernate without the threat of predators. They offer a hibernation site that is safer from predators in the winter. It may also be used as a nesting box for a mother and her hoglets in the warmer months
Maintenance
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Can be cleaned annually during March/April, avoid disturbing in winter or summer when hedgehogs may be hibernating or breeding which could cause the mother to abandon her hoglets if she is disturbed.
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Remove bedding and clean the inside of the hedgehog house with boiling water to kill any parasites, then let the house dry out before replacing the lid, or adding any new bedding materials.
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Never use creosote or treat with non-water based preservatives or paint as the fumes remain for a long time and can be very harmful. If used, water based preservatives should be on the outside of the box only.