Hedgehog Homes
As a designated local nature reserve (LNR) we take great care to manage the diverse habitats that can be found around the park, and do what we can to aid our resident local wildlife to ensure that they are able to thrive at the park.
Although you may not see them, the park is home to one of the UK’s most loved mammals - the hedgehog. Hedgehogs spend a lot of their time sleeping, resting through the day and then becoming active at night as they hunt for food. They hibernate during the winter, building a small nest from fallen leaves called a hibernaculum, which helps them to stay warm when their body temperature drops during hibernation.
To help our local hedgehogs, our grounds maintenance team has installed hedgehog boxes around the park, which provide essential shelter and support for these cute little mammals, helping them to thrive and enrich the biodiversity of our local nature reserve.
Here are some key reasons why installing hedgehog boxes is beneficial:
Safe hibernation: Hedgehogs need a warm and dry place to hibernate during the winter, and hedgehog boxes offer a safe and protected space for them to sleep through the cold months.
Breeding and raising young: Female hedgehogs use boxes as a safe haven to give birth and raise their hoglets (baby hedgehogs). The box provides protection not only from predators but harsh weather conditions too.
Protection from predators: Hedgehogs face threats from various predators like foxes and badgers. Hedgehog boxes act as a secure refuge, offering protection from these dangers.
Natural pest control: Hedgehogs are voracious eaters, consuming a wide range of insects and invertebrates (including beetles, earwigs, earthworms and caterpillars). By providing them with shelter, you encourage their presence in your garden, leading to natural pest control for your garden and vegetable patch.
Boosting biodiversity: Creating a welcoming habitat for hedgehogs contributes to a healthier ecosystem. Their presence encourages other wildlife, increasing biodiversity in the park and your garden.
By installing hedgehog boxes, we can all help to play an important role in conservation, helping to combat the declining numbers of hedgehogs in the UK and also to create more wildlife friendly environments.
