Hedgehog Box (standard)
£45.00
Product Info
Each box is made from an array of upcycled and reclaimed timber. Whether this timber is stripped from wooden pallets destined for the tip or simply made out of off-cuts taken from the workshop, the use of reclaimed timber will give each box a different and unique look. Each box will feature a predator proof partition and a waterproof sloped roof to allow the rain to drain off the back. The lid is also hinged for easy access inside. The box is raised off the ground on runners that can be easily replaced if they become rotten over time. These runners reduce the possibility of water soaking up through the floor from underneath. Finished in a water resistant stain.
Placing an order
Please CLICK HERE to use the "Contact Me" section of the website. In your message please include the product name and I will be in touch shortly.
£5.00 of your (standard) Hedgehog Box purchase will be donated to one of the charities/organisations listed below in order to help them continue the work they do in helping to protect hedgehogs, other wildlife and their habitat.
Alpine Hedgehog Home
£295.00
Product Info
This Alpine Hedgehog Home is built in line with the Alpine Bird House. It uses similar construction methods and is very similar in design. The main body is finished in a water resistant paint and has no windows to ensure the hedgehogs are kept nice and warm. This home has the same lid mechanism and predator proof partition as the standard box and is also made of reclaimed timber. This box is also raised off the ground on runners that can be easily replaced if they become rotten over time. These runners reduce the possibility of water soaking up through the floor from underneath. The roof is finished in a water resistant stain varnish.
Placing an order
I can make these specific to client requests in relation to colour, timber combinations and also, to an extent, the design of the house itself.
Please CLICK HERE to use the "Contact Me" section of the website. In your message please include the name of the product and any specific product requests that you have,
This video was taken in my back garden last summer and shows one of our resident hedgehogs, Henri, arriving for his evening meal. Henri is the youngest of 4 hedgehogs that visits our garden almost daily and even stayed with us for a few weeks in the winter to start his hibernation.
*Please note that the hedgehog box seen in the video is an old design and does not reflect the product you will receive.
How to care for a Hedgehog resident in your garden
Spotted some hedgehogs in the garden but aren't sure how to best take care of them? Don't worry - we've got you covered. The following hints and tips are based on the best practices for hedgehogs.
The biggest tip when it comes to looking after your spiky friends is to never give them bread or milk. Because they can’t digest either of them, it can actually upset their stomach and leave them very unwell.
Photo by Hans-Olof Andersson on Unsplash
So, what can you leave out for hedgehogs?
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Puppy and kitten food – stick to meat flavours and avoid leaving wet food out in winter.
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Leftover, cooked, unprocessed meats – chicken is best. They love it!
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Specialist hedgehog food – available online and in good pet stores.
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Eggs – hard-boiled or plain scrambled, hedgehogs love eggs!
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Chopped peanuts – plain peanuts only.
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Raisins/Sultanas
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Water
What else can you do to look after the hedgehogs in your garden..?
Avoid using pesticides and slug pellets where possible. There are so many great alternatives available that don't harm hedgehogs, there's no real need to use them. Sadly, hedgehogs don't know not to eat slug pellets and they also have a habit of eating poisoned slugs - both of which make them very poorly.
So, instead of pellets and pesticides, why not try putting bowls of stale beet into holes in the ground, or putting copper bands around the base of your plants? I know - these sound pretty crazy. But, trust us, they really do work!
Approach your compost heap with caution.
Okay, so you don't need to creep up on it like you're a ninja...just be aware that a hedgehog - for a family of hedgehogs - may have decided to make your compost heap their home. To you, it might just be a pile of rotting waste but to them, it's luxurious. It's cosy and full of yummy worms - what more could they want?!
So if you're going to be moving it about or are planning on putting lots of stuff in there, just be careful.
Photo by Piotr Łaskawski on Unsplash
Build bonfires on the day.
Chances are you won’t be having bonfires all that often – maybe only on fireworks night. But however often you build them, it’s important to build them on the day.
Why? Because hedgehogs see this as a place to build their home. They don’t know you’re about to light it on fire – they just see it as a cosy place to sleep and, potentially, hibernate. Building it on the day means there’s less chance of any hedgehogs crawling in.
Lighting your bonfire from one side is also a good idea. That way, if any cute little hedgehogs have crawled in, they have an escape route to get out.
Photo by Piotr Łaskawski on Unsplash
Photo by Advocator SY on Unsplash
Watch out for high grass.
Let’s face it; sometimes we can get a bit lazy with the gardening. Mowing the lawn can become one of those tasks you put off for tomorrow… and the next day… until suddenly your grass has got a little bit too high.
Before you start to tackle the problem, it’s worth taking a look and seeing if there are any little hedgehogs hiding in the grass.
Bin it.
“Bin what?” we hear you cry. Bin your litter. Most of us are pretty good with keeping our gardens clean but every so often the wind sweeps something in, or a guest leaves something lying around. So just keep an eye on litter.
If your postman accidentally drops an elastic band, pick it up before hedgehogs can find themselves caught up in it. If you have friends round, make sure they don’t leave any 6-pack rings lying around. The last thing you’ll want is a hedgehog to get caught in one.
Like we say, most of us are pretty good at this anyway but it’s worth being super careful if you think you get any spiky little visitors.
'The information above is provided by Wildlife Watch (© The Wildlife Trusts 2009),
available at: https://www.wildlifewatch.org.uk/, (Accessed: 06/06/2020)