The importance of conservation for our European hedgehog friends

I can hear scampering around outside my backdoor!

The still dark blanket of night shrouds the garden with an eerie feeling of being watched, as you hastily place your tightly knotted bin bag safely beside the damp wall of the shed, retreating speedily back to the safety of the kitchen, you hear just a faint sound of something moving beneath the dense bulging sides of the privet hedge, unwilling to loiter for the invisible culprits appearance the back door is closed firmly behind you. Once inside you bravely stand and survey, eyes straining, the garden path and the offending hedge for any sign of movement, seeking out the possibility of any trespasser, your heart beating hands ready to reach for the nearest saucepan, the culprit of this late night fear factor emerges slowly from the safety of its secret lair, a large spiny hedgehog.

The alien spiked ball of the Garden

This nocturnal insectivore has been responsible for many accounts of night time shenanigans occurring in our gardens, with stories of predators and an unseen presence lurking in the dark shadows waiting to pounce. From ghostly sounds to the possibility of something large and alien the undiscovered visitor able to roll and become motionless at the threat of a predator makes the human imagination run riot with their tales of the dark night garden, when in fact the common hedgehog is just going about his nocturnal business, foraging for worms, slugs and insects, of course if you happen to have left a large bin bag outside with that evenings left overs offering the night air an odour of gourmet delights, Mrs Tiggywinkle is of course, going to investigate and taste your culinary skills.

There are actually seventeen different species of hedgehog currently found in western and northern Europe, the most common being our own much loved, European hedgehog, the only ‘spiny’ animal to be found in Great Britain. This lovable addition to our garden is sadly in great decline due to the ever encroaching urbanization and cultivation of their natural habitat. These little characters are a great addition to any garden, as they are actually wonderful pest controllers, removing the bain of the gardeners life, the slug and also indulging in their love of beetles, earthworms and caterpillars. There decline in numbers has become of such concern that an independent conservation plan has now been put into place to help establish a regular update on their numbers, as over the last ten years the population has dropped by 25% and is still falling.

The Hedgehog is not actually part of the hog family

Although this little nocturnal mammal bears no resemblance to a hog, his name is thought to have come into use in around 1450, derived from the middle English ‘heyghoge’, from heyg, hegge ( hedge ) as it is mostly found within the hedgerows, and ‘hoge’ hogge ( hog ) from his little be-whiskered snout resembling that of a pig. His preferred living environment now in such decline, has caused him to alter his natural choice of habitat, enabling him to live within mans encroaching lifestyle.

We all need to be more aware of the need to protect this wonderful spiny addition to our garden, the hedgehog, his conservation and the need to encourage more suitable habitat is something we are all able to do with the simple addition of a hedgehog house. This small conservation home will enable him to hibernate safely, avoiding the cold winter winds and the damp night air. Once positioned, preferably in a quiet part of the garden, against a wall, fence or even the garden shed, you will find this little visitor could soon take up residence.

As autumn starts to turn the trees to gold and daylight hours draw in the night at a great speed, give some thought to the gardeners friend. A hedgehog home is something more than just another garden feature, it is the security and warmth that will help this spiny visitor survive another winter and ensure that his conservation for generations to come will be helped with the addition of their new home.

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