Garden owners urged to add small fence gaps to protect hedgehogs
A campaign by outdoor-living firm Dino Decking promotes “Hedgehog Highways” - tiny openings in fences that let hedgehogs move between gardens.
A survey ordered by Dino Decking revealed that 41 % of respondents have never spotted a hedgehog in their garden, while 12 % haven’t seen one for over a year. To address this decline, the firm launched a “Hedgehog Highway” initiative, offering free fence-panel kits and urging gardeners to create 13 cm square gaps at fence bases. The British Hedgehog Preservation Society supports the measure, noting that hedgehogs cannot climb or dig under solid barriers and need safe routes to forage.
Additional recommendations include leaving a wild corner, providing shallow water dishes, and checking for wildlife before mowing. The society warns that ponds without exits and low netting can trap hedgehogs. Gardeners can log sightings on the Big Hedgehog Map to track movement across neighborhoods.
