hedgehog house © Berry Mulligan

Features from Wildlife magazine Wildlife articles 2008 -- Spring 2008 -- ::Severn Barrage ::The Variety of life ::A year at Willsbridge ::Willsbridge comes of age ::Reaching out - Willsbridge ::Round the reserves Wildlife articles 2007 -- Autumn 2007 -- ::Thinking BIG ::Watery webs:the pond network ::Wildlife in the landscape ::Variety of life ::How to be a climate friend ::Seasonal stroll - Walborough ::Round the reserves -- Summer 2007 -- ::The Folly Farm appeal ::Weston Big Wood-biodiversity at its best ::The variety of life ::How to capture a butterfly ::How to get to know an orchid ::Seasonal stroll - WestonBigWood ::Reserves update -- Spring 2007 -- ::Folly Farm - a very special place ::Making a difference at Folly Farm ::How find the magic at Folly Farm ::Seasonal stroll at Folly Farm ::Magic spots at Folly Farm ::Batscapes ::Climate challenge ::Variety of Life - the Ponways project ::Round the reserves Wildlife articles 2006 -- Autumn 2006 -- ::The Severn Estuary ::Bird Watch results ::How to identify garden birds ::Making space for wildlife ::How does your garden grow? ::Round the reserves -- Summer 2006 -- ::Going for green ::Stand up and be counted ::Happy birthday NSLMP ::Holi day - a riot of spring colour ::Avon's species-rich grassland ::How to photograph dragonflies ::The Big Switch ::Round the reserves -- Spring 2006 -- ::How to identify winter water birds ::Make 2006 the year you... ::Invasive invasion ::Sowing the seeds: Willsbridge Mill ::Round the reserves Wildlife articles 2005 -- Autumn 2005 -- ::Indentify common funghi ::Build a hedgehog hideaway ::Big Bird Watch ::Champions for wildlife ::Round the reserves ::Seeds of the futre: Willsbridge Mill -- Summer 2005 -- ::Restoring Folly Farm ::How to become bee-friendly ::How to identify the butterflies of spring ::Save our seas ::The variety of life: hedgerows ::Round the reserves ::25 Ways to make a difference -- Spring 2005 -- ::The variety of life: water voles ::The Avon Biodiversity Action Plan ::How to take really good wildlife photos ::How to help your garden grow ::Round the reserves ::Seasonal strolls: Browns Folly ::Sowing the seeds: for wildlife for people ::Sowing the seeds: looking back

How to...

build a Hedgehog Hideaway

With its spiky coat, long nose and endearing face the hedgehog is one of the most easily recognised wild animals in Britain.

A grown hedgehog can have up to 7500 spines, which come into their own when it feels threatened and curls up into a ball. Anything foolhardy enough to try and get a grip on it will end up with a mouth full of spikes. They're agile climbers and can also squeeze through extremely small holes.

You can encourage hedgehogs by putting out food and water throughout the year. They like to eat minced meat, fresh liver, dog or cat food (not fish based) or even scrambled eggs. Don't give bread and milk as it will upset their digestion - clean fresh water is better, given in a shallow bowl.

Slug pellets are a great threat to hedgehogs, so try using beer traps or sprinkling fine sand around the plants you want to protect (though with hedgehogs in your garden your slug population should be under control anyway). Ponds are another hazard, needing a couple of bricks or a wire net installed to help hedgehogs get out if they fall in..

At this time of year hedgehogs are on the look-out for a winter nest and often choose sites in quiet corners of gardens, gathering together dry vegetation and preparing for hibernation under hedges, beneath or in sheds, and under compost heaps.

You can build your own hedgehog house to encourage them into your garden

For the ultimate detached hedgehog 'des res', use strong untreated wood at least 2 cm thick to make a 40 cm square box. Fix the lid using hooks (so you can remove it to clean the box). Cut a 10cm square hole in the front and fit in an entrance tunnel, also made from untreated wood and measuring 10cm deep x 10cm wide x 60cm long).

Ventilate the box by inserting a 2cm diameter piece of pipe, with wire mesh on the box end to stop blockages. It should slope downwards to let water run out of the box. Now furnish the interior with lots of dry leaves for bedding. Camouflage it with lots of prunings and leaves. The best place to put the box is in a quiet part of the garden, but where you can see the comings and goings of your new neighbours!

For a simple 'end of terrace' version, lean a wooden board up against a wall and fill with dry leaves - a simple and
snug shelter

Remember, remember the fifth of November ... do check your heap of cuttings destined for the bonfire before striking the match, to make sure your resident garden hedgehog hasn't decided it's a prime site for hibernation.

Did you know - a hedgehog can walk two miles during a night searching for food and an over-excited hedgehog can run at a top speed of 6 mph - but only in short bursts!