How To Make a Hedgehog Home: A Practical Guide for Supporting Wildlife This Spring
As gardens come back to life with the arrival of spring, it’s a wonderful time to think about how we can make our outdoor spaces more welcoming to wildlife. One of the simplest and most rewarding projects you can undertake is building a home for hedgehogs. These charming, nocturnal visitors are a much-loved part of Britain’s natural heritage, but sadly, hedgehog numbers have declined significantly in recent years. Creating a safe, sheltered space for them in your garden can play a small but important role in their conservation.
This guide will take you through everything you need to know about how to make a hedgehog home, offering a safe retreat for hibernation, nesting, and protection from predators.
Before getting started, it’s helpful to understand why hedgehogs need a little help. According to the Wildlife Trusts and the RSPCA, habitat loss, busy roads, and the use of pesticides have all contributed to the decline in hedgehog populations across the UK. Gardens can be vital sanctuaries, offering food, shelter, and safe passage. Even a modest garden, with a little thought, can become a haven for these delightful creatures.
When thinking about how to make a hedgehog home, location is key. Choose a quiet, sheltered spot, ideally against a fence or hedge, where it will be protected from wind and flooding. It should be a place that’s shaded for most of the day, to help regulate temperature inside the house. Somewhere slightly hidden, away from the main activity of the garden, is ideal.
You don’t need to spend a fortune or even buy a ready-made house. Hedgehogs are not fussy about appearance but they do need shelter from the elements and predators. You can easily build a hedgehog home using simple, natural materials and a little basic DIY.
One of the most straightforward designs uses a sturdy wooden box, about 30cm x 40cm in size, with an entrance tunnel to deter predators like foxes or badgers. Untreated wood is best, as it will blend naturally into the garden and avoid chemicals that might harm wildlife. Drill some small ventilation holes into the box to allow airflow, but not so large that they let in rain or draughts. The entrance should be roughly 13cm x 13cm—large enough for a hedgehog to squeeze through but too small for most predators.
Inside, you can place some dry leaves, hay, or straw to help the hedgehog make a cosy nest. It’s important not to use anything synthetic like plastic or fleece, as these can be dangerous. Avoid placing food inside the house as it may attract rats. Instead, supplementary feeding should be done outside the house, with specialist hedgehog food or meat-based cat food. Camouflaging the home is helpful. Cover it lightly with leaves, twigs, and cuttings to blend it into the surroundings and provide extra insulation. Make sure, however, that the entrance remains clear. You want the hedgehog to be able to come and go without obstruction.
Once your hedgehog house is in place, it’s important to leave it undisturbed. Regular checking, moving, or opening the house can deter hedgehogs from using it. It’s recommended to clean out a hedgehog house once a year, ideally in early spring (April) when you are sure it is empty. Wear gloves and use hot water (not chemicals) for cleaning.
Supporting hedgehogs doesn’t stop with building a home. Somerset Wildlife Trust and other conservation bodies recommend creating ‘hedgehog highways’, small gaps in fences or walls, that allow hedgehogs to roam between gardens safely. A 13cm x 13cm hole at the bottom of a fence panel is all that’s needed. Hedgehogs can travel up to two miles a night in search of food and mates, so making our gardens accessible is vital to their survival.
You can also encourage hedgehogs by keeping parts of your garden a little wild. Log piles, compost heaps, and dense undergrowth provide excellent natural shelters. Reducing pesticide use, especially slug pellets, will make gardens safer for hedgehogs and support the wider food chain. If you have a pond, adding a gently sloping side or a simple ramp can prevent hedgehogs from drowning after coming to drink.
Learning how to make a hedgehog home is about more than DIY; it’s a way to reconnect with nature and contribute to the conservation of one of Britain’s most beloved species. It’s also a rewarding project to share with grandchildren, neighbours, or community groups, spreading awareness and appreciation for these gentle garden visitors.
At Nynehead Court, we are passionate about creating environments that nurture life at every level, from the vibrant social life of our residents to the wildlife that shares our beautiful grounds. This spring, our gardens are full of life, and we warmly invite you to come and experience them for yourself.
Whether you are visiting loved ones or considering a respite stay, there is no better time to enjoy the sights, sounds and scents of the season. If you would like to find out more about our award-winning care home and the wonderful lifestyle we offer, please do get in touch. To learn more about our gardens, care options and how we could support you or your family, contact us today to arrange a visit or to enquire about short stays or permanent residency.