Cooks Lane, Sittingbourne

How to Help Hedgehogs in your Area

Did you know that hedgehog numbers have fallen by 30 percent in just over 10 years and they are disappearing from the parks and gardens of Britain at an alarming rate.This decline is likely caused by the loss and degradation of habitats due to pressures such as development or agricultural and climate change.

Helping hedgehogs is not as difficult as you may think and there are lots of small changes we can all make that will combine to have a huge positive effect…..

Create a Hedgehog Highway

Ensuring Hedgehogs can pass freely through your garden is the most important thing you can do to help them. Hedgehogs travel several miles each night in search of food and to find a mate, so speak with your neighbours and ask them to help make your new “Hedgehog Highway” as long as possible.

Cut an access hole at the bottom of the fence or wall on each side of your garden (13cm squared) - it’s the perfect size for our spiny friends to walk through.

Build a Hedgehog House

Hedgehogs need homes, so making one for them is a great way to encourage them into your garden. Whether you live in a town or the countryside, you can help by providing food, water and shelter.

Keep it clean and pile it up!

Clear out the hedgehog house once a year (late March – early April) to prevent the build-up of pests. Carefully check it’s empty first. Making a log pile or compost heap are also good options for providing space for hedgehogs to nest, and have the added bonus of attracting lots of insects for them to eat!

Avoid the use of pesticides and slug pellets!

Hedgehogs are natural ‘pest’ controllers and rely on a plentiful supply of creatures like slugs, earth worms, beetles and earwigs to stay healthy.

Find further information about feeding and caring for lost hedgehogs as well as a link to get your own Happy Hedgehogs Pack from Kent Wildlife Trust.

Visit https://www.kentwildlifetrust.org.uk/help-a-hedgehog

Our Meet the Contractor Event was a good opportunity for the local community to come and meet ENGIE and ask any questions they had ahead of the new development commencing.

We had some valuable feedback and we are keen to continue to engage with the local community.