How to create a hedgehog feeding station

The Island • May 21, 2020

It comes as no surprise that families are spending more time in their gardens and transforming them into beautiful spaces. Gardening is a simple pleasure which can be enjoyed by many, however, with gardening comes the danger of disturbing Britain's favourite mammal, the humble hedgehog, whose numbers have been in steep decline in recent decades.

As a small children's charity, we feel lockdown can offer families the chance to be reintroduced to nature and become educated on how to offer nourishment and care for wild animals who call your garden home.

One of the main reasons that hedgehogs are declining in numbers is down to the fact that they struggle to find food and water, however with your help you can help your local population to thrive once more.

Please find below a step by step guide of how you can build a hedgehog feeding station.

STEP ONE
Feeding hedgehogs is relatively cheap to do and can offer you the chance to watch them in their natural habitat.

The first step is to purchase a long plastic under bed storage container (if you are feeling flush then you can buy a ready made wooden hedgehog feeding station). We would recommend getting a container that is transparent so that you can watch the hedgehogs feeding from afar. The hedgehogs are likely to come back to your garden regularly if they are aware of a regular food and water source and feel safe.


STEP TWO
The next step is to cut a hole in the storage container so that your local hedgehog population can get in and out of the feeding station. The hole needs to be 4in by 4in (please make sure an adult cuts the hole).

Once you have made a doorway in your feeding station, then make sure you put some duck tape around the edges. The reason that we are suggesting this is because if there are any sharp bits then we would hate for the hedgehog to be hurt. Putting some duck tape around the door ensures they remain safe whilst feeding.

STEP THREE
The next step is to put some newspaper in the bottom of the feeding station. Putting down some newspaper means that you can easily change it once it gets messy.

We'd recommend changing the newspaper every two days and cleaning the feeding station once a week with a pet-friendly disinfectant. This will ensure that your prickly friends can enjoy a 5-star service every time they visit you.

STEP FOUR
One of main questions that people ask a lot when considering feeding hedgehogs is "how do I prevent the neighbour's cat from getting in?". One of the best ways you can reduce the number of cats getting into your feeding station is by facing the door of the feeding station a hand's width away from a wall. This method seems to reduce the number of cats being able to get in ensuring that the majority of the food is being eaten by hedgehogs. From time to time, you may find that a naughty bird might hop on in, the clever little things!

STEP FIVE
This step is the best bit and its all about putting food into your feeding station. You can use small cat and/or dog biscuits or if you are keen to to buy a specialist hedgehog biscuit then good brands on the market include Ark, Spikes and Brambles. We would, however, recommend that you purchase a brand which is biscuits only. Using a brand which has mealworms and seeds included is unhealthy for a hedgehog and can lead to long-term complications or even death.

STEP SIX
This is probably the most important step and can be a lifesaver to many hedgehogs lives and that is to put a bowl of fresh water out for hedgehogs every day. Put the water next to the feeding station in a heavy bowl so that a hedgehog doesn't accidentally tip the bowl of water over.

It is recommended that you clean and put fresh water out every day to ensure that your local hedgehog population can stay as healthy and happy for as long as possible.

STEP SEVEN
The picture below gives you an idea of how your hedgehog feeding station and water should look, however, there is one vital item missing and is really important... putting something heavy on top of the feeding station.


STEP EIGHT
The reason why we recommend that you put something heavy on top of a feeding station, for example a brick or a plant pot, is because cats are very clever and are strong enough to turn the station around so they can get in. Thankfully, cats aren't strong enough to move a brick or a plant pot, meaning you can be rest assured that you are helping wildlife in your area to thrive time and time again.

Other important tips to remember:
- Hedgehogs should never be out during the day, if you find a hedgehog out during daytime hours then it is highly likely that it is poorly and needs help. The best thing to do is put the hedgehog into a high sided box and contact the British Hedgehog Preservation Society or your local hedgehog rescue for guidance and advice.

- If you are looking to do some gardening at home, then carefully check through your plants beforehand, this will ensure that you don't endanger the lives of young hoglets or sleeping hedgehogs who have called your garden their home.

Have you built a hedgehog feeding station after reading this blog post? If so then click here to send us a picture. We'd love to see them!

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