Give a Hedgehog a Hand This July: Why Your Fence Needs a Gap
As we settle into the warm evenings of July, our gardens are buzzing with life. But while we're enjoying the summer weather, one of our favorite garden visitors is putting in some serious miles.
Summer is peak season for hedgehogs—they are actively foraging for food, finding mates, and raising their young.
However, these beloved, prickly foragers are facing a major roadblock: our garden fences.
The Problem with Modern Fencing
Hedgehogs are natural wanderers. In a single night, a hedgehog can travel up to two miles in search of food and water. They rely on moving through interconnected gardens and green spaces to survive.
Unfortunately, modern landscaping practices often involve erecting solid fences with heavy concrete gravel boards that go flush to the ground. While this is great for privacy and keeping pets secure, it creates an impenetrable fortress for hedgehogs. When their natural roaming paths are cut off, they are forced onto dangerous roads or trapped in areas without enough food, contributing to the alarming decline in the UK’s hedgehog population.
The Solution: Creating a "Hedgehog Highway"
The good news is that helping them is incredibly simple. All it takes is a small gap at the bottom of your fence—affectionately known as a "Hedgehog Highway."
A hole just 13cm by 13cm (about the size of a CD case for those old enough to remember cd's) is perfectly sized to let hedgehogs pass through freely while keeping most pets safely contained. By coordinating with your neighbors to create these small gaps, you can link up entire streets, providing a safe, vast habitat for local wildlife.
Making the Cut
Cutting a hole in a wooden fence panel is manageable with a saw, but what if you have solid, heavy-duty baseboards? Modifying existing concrete is tough, messy, and requires specialized tools.
But don't worry, at Hardscape Supplies we have you covered with our hedgehog-friendly concrete gravel boards with the hole already in.
We have you covered.
If you are planning to upgrade your garden fencing this summer, you don't have to choose between a secure, long-lasting perimeter and supporting local wildlife.
Our specially designed gravel boards provide the robust durability you expect for your landscaping projects, with a pre-cast, perfectly sized archway built right into the base.
Small Changes, Big Impact
July is the perfect time to evaluate your garden’s accessibility. By installing hedgehog-friendly gravel boards, you are doing your part to protect a vulnerable species, ensuring they have the freedom to roam, eat, and thrive for years to come.
Drop into the yard today to check out our hedgehog-friendly boards and let’s keep our local wildlife moving!
