Gardeners Urged to Provide Hedgehog Shelter This Autumn

As of October 18th, 2025, gardeners are being urged to take a simple step to welcome hedgehogs into their homes this autumn. These small animals not only make for cute visitors, but they also serve as natural pest controllers, devouring slugs, snails, and insects that can damage plants.

Encouraging hedgehogs is an excellent way to support a species that has been in decline. Typically, these creatures are most commonly spotted in gardens during the night between April and October, as this marks their active foraging period. However, they may also appear during daylight hours, particularly in summer when nights are shorter, or during late summer and early autumn when young, unweaned hedgehogs venture out to forage.

To entice hedgehogs into their gardens, gardeners are advised to provide them with shelter. According to a gardening expert, the key is to offer a log pile, compost heap, or purpose-built house in a shaded spot, as this will give the hedgehogs a safe place to rest and hibernate. By taking this simple step, gardeners can help these beneficial creatures thrive and contribute to the overall health of their gardens.