Hedgehogs

The hedgehog is a priority species in the Dedham Vale National Landscape Nature Recovery Plan.

In the past decade over a half of rural hedgehogs and a third from towns and cities have been lost. Areas in and around towns and villages can be excellent habitats for hedgehogs, and hedgehogs often prefer them over farmland.

This decline has been brought by fragmented landscapes of houses, roads, walls, fences and farming which has meant less connectivity and corridors for wildlife.

It’s important gardens and countryside are linked to provide enough habitat

for them to feed, nest and hibernate.

You can help hedgehogs by gardening in hedgehog friendly ways, including the following advice

Create wild areas with leaf and log piles for shelter and finding food
Remove any netting to avoid tangles and make your pond safe with a ramp
Put out water and cat or dog food to supplement their natural diet
Avoid using chemicals that reduce the hedgehogs' creepy crawly prey
Check for hedgehogs before having a bonfire or cutting long grass
Make a DIY home for hedgehogs to give them somewhere to nest and hibernate

In order to help hedgehogs the National Landscape Team gave away free hedgehog homes and hedgehog highway signs to suitable locations. You might also like this cute song all about hedgehogs from the Prickly Prickles Hedgehog Rescue.

Hedgehog Talk and Q&A

The Dedham Vale and Suffolk & Essex Coast & Heaths National Landscapes team & the Suffolk Wildlife Trust hosted a live online talk and Q&A all about hedgehogs!

The event took place on Wednesday 20th March 2024 - hosted by Tom Fairbrother and Emma Black from the National Landscape team, and Cathy Smith from the Suffolk Wildlife Trust.

Topics included what hedgehogs are, what they eat, when they sleep and hibernate, the challenges they face, what we can do to help in our own gardens, community action, examples of projects in villages, and lots more!