Hedgehogs

[Two_Sheds]

it was an overgrown and barriered off part of the garden which used to attract lots of different things. Since clearing it up and building my veg areas not much of the wildlife has stayed around.

there's the answer, right there

[Florence Fennel]

Ah shame, my illusion of TS jogging alongside a hedgehog on a bike is now well and truly shattered.

[Eco-Chic]

Ah shame, my illusion of TS jogging alongside a hedgehog on a bike is now well and truly shattered.

That's just silly

The hedgehog was TS's pacesetter duh!

[Pumpkin Becki]

there's the answer, right there

Percisely TS.
Hinsky, if you create new alternative habitats for wildlife (maybe round the edges of your plot), it will come back. Feed the birds and put up nest boxes, leave piles of sticks for Ladybirds and lacewings to hibernate in, make log piles for toads, frogs and sloworms. As you diversify your wildlife, it will repay you by helping with your plot. The birds will eat grubs and snails, ladybirds and lacewings (and their offspring) will devour aphids, and so on. Hedgehogs are part of that ecosystem. If you provide somewhere safe for them and food and water they can access, then they will come to you.

[Nicos]

If you're backing onto allotments- it might be worth while posting something up there requesting peeps check their bonfires before they light them
That might help one or two survive

[Rocketron]

I know hedgepigs eat slugs, but does anyone know if they eat snails ?
I ask as we had very few slugs this year, but were inundated by snails.

[Hinksy]

From the info I did look up on Hedgehogs they mainly eat insects but will also eat, Snails, Mice, Birds, Frogs and Lizards, oh and they can also apparently eat Wasps and Bee's without being stung.




Most of the wildlife we used to get anyway up the top was Cats and Foxes shitting up trees! I have encouraged the birds to come back, back during the summer I remember giving the Sweetcorn a watering with the hose and loads of little baby finches flew up and start sliding down the Sweetcorn like they were at a them park! Was a funny sight.

I have been in touch with the RSPCA who are sending me details of Hedgehog Sanctuaries and from which you can re-home them, and from what they have told me it is very easy to tame a wild hedgehog and they will return if they feel safe.