Frome Wild Bunch Column – Simple ways to support hedgehogs

At our last Wild Bunch gathering we were joined by Jennie from Keyford Hedgehog Rescue and Rehab, who shared her expertise on how we can all make our gardens safer for hedgehogs. 

Inspired by her advice, here are some easy, practical ways to support hedgehogs that visit our gardens. One of the most valuable things we can do is create connected, wildlife-friendly spaces.

Hedgehogs roam up to a mile each night looking for food, so enabling them to move freely between gardens makes a huge difference. A small hole in a fence or wall of around 13cm by 13cm (the size of a CD) is ideal for a ‘hedgehog highway’. Chat to your neighbours to see if you can link up several gardens to form a safe route. Hedgehogs are good climbers, so if you have a stone wall creating a ‘staircase’ with rocks or logs both sides can help them access your garden.

Providing shelter also helps hedgehogs thrive. Leaf piles, log piles, compost heaps or purpose-built hedgehog houses offer safe spots for resting and hibernation. Try to keep these areas undisturbed, especially in autumn and winter. There are many commercially made hedgehog houses on the market that are not suitable, so if you would like some advice on the best hedgehog housing options, contact the Wild Bunch or Keyford Hedgehog Rescue and Rehab.

Do not use pesticides and slug pellets, which reduce natural prey and can harm hedgehogs directly, as well as travel up the food chain.

Jennie reminded us that natural foraging is always best for hedgehogs’ health. It ensures their nutritional needs are met, promotes natural behaviour and prevents spreading disease. Healthy hedgehogs are perfectly able to find their own beetles, worms and other natural food when we create nature-friendly gardens with connected habitats, safe corridors and the diverse ecosystems they need.

Prevention is just as important as support. Before mowing, strimming, turning compost, or lighting bonfires, always check for hedgehogs hiding in long grass, hedge bottoms, or piles of leaves and wood. Many injuries occur simply because a hedgehog was tucked away somewhere cosy and unnoticed.

If you see a hedgehog out in daylight or notice one looking thin, cold, wobbly or injured, contact a rescue for advice. Keyford Hedgehog Rescue and Rehab is a great local point of contact. One of Frome Town Council’s Rangers, Asia is also a trained Hedgehog First Aider so if you are out and about in one of our green spaces and find a hedgehog that needs help ask the Rangers for help.

Our next Wild Bunch gathering will be at the town hall on Thursday 18th December from 1.30pm to 3pm. This will be a relaxed festive meet-up over a mince pie, with an opportunity to plant a small pot of native Tenby daffodils to take home as a Christmas gift to nature at your doorstep. Book free tickets at bit.ly/wild-bunch-dec-2025.

Get in touch with the Wild Bunch at fromewildbunch@gmail.com. Contact Keyford Hedgehog Rescue and Rehab at keyfordhedgehogrescue@gmail.com.