How to create a hedgehog hole

Help hedgehogs get around by making holes and access points in fences and barriers to link up the gardens in your neighbourhood.

Hedgehogs need to be able to roam far and wide in search of food, mates and nesting sites - the average hedgehog roams 2km a night! Get together with your neighbours to make a hole in your fence or dig a channel beneath garden boundaries to connect your gardens.

You will need:

A fence panel

Ruler

Pencil

Coping saw

Sandpaper

Your neighbours' cooperation! Keep an eye out for neighbours doing work on their gardens, or using fencing contractors - this is the perfect opportunity to get a hedgehog hole put in!

Step 1

If your neighbour is happy, remove a fence panel. The other option is to leave the fence up and use a pad saw or ‘jab saw’ instead of a coping saw.

Step 2

Measure and mark a 13cm x 13cm hole at the bottom of the panel.

Step 3

Using the coping saw, cut out the marked hole.

Step 4

If there are very rough edges, use sandpaper to smooth them down

Step 5

Put your fence panel back. Your hedgehog highway is now open for business!

Remember

To record your hedgehog hole, go to the national network at Hedgehog Street. Hedgehog Street aims to encourage people to link their gardens and make ‘Hedgehog Highways’ that are rich in insects and free from hazards.

Why not build a hedgehog home in your garden? This will encourage them to stay by giving them a safe place to hibernate over winter.

Hedgehog peering out from under autumn leaves next to garden trowel (captive, rescue animal)

Tom Marshall

How to help hedgehogs in your garden

'Help a Hog' is your free guide to helping hedgehogs thrive in your own back yard. Download the guide to learn plenty of other simple steps you can take to make your space a hedgehog haven!

Our Help a Hog guide