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To promote and improve habitats for hedgehogs we must provide them with safe areas to shelter and forage. Hedgehog boxes will be used for a variety of reasons: to take a nap, to give birth and shelter young hoglets and to hibernate for the winter. Hedgehog boxes can be bought online from NHBS,  Garden Wildlife Direct or Amazon (to name a few) or in most garden centres. Or why not try making your own!

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If you are making your own, the Hedgehog Preservation Society​ recommend a more permanent structure but there are many design choices available. The easiest and cheapest option is using an up turned plastic box with a postcard sized cut out hole for entry, or an old cat carrier with the door removed.  For the more adventurous amongst you, building one using wood scraps or bricks can be a fun way of getting the kids involved. Click here for a tutorial.

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Place your box in a quiet shady area of the garden, preferably near some dense vegetation or a hedge. Disguising your box with make it more attractive to searching hedgehogs. Providing hay and dried leaves is a good idea as hedgehogs will likely use them to make their own nest. 

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Hedgehogs will very rarely eat and nest in the same place, and providing food in a box made for shelter could attract predators. If you want to provide food and water for your hedgehog, it is best to make a feeding station and place it away from the hedgehog box. 

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Feeding stations can be similar to boxes but should have several entrances as hedgehogs can get aggressive over food and it is a good idea to provide an additional escape route. Food should be placed away from the entrances and preferably close to a wall so cats can't get their paws into it. Click here for a tutorial.

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It is always a good idea to provide clean fresh water when attracting wildlife to your garden.