Hedgehogs have long been one of Britain’s most loved wild animals – gentle, shy, and quietly pottering through gardens and hedgerows at night. But despite their iconic status, hedgehog numbers have fallen dramatically across the UK in recent decades. Rural villages like ours should be natural havens for them, yet modern landscaping, development, and changes in land use have created obstacles that make survival increasingly difficult.
The good news? Kempsey is perfectly placed to become a hedgehog-friendly village – and every household can play a part. With just a few simple changes, we can give our hedgehogs the safe, connected, food-rich habitats they desperately need.
This blog sets out why hedgehogs matter, what’s threatening them, and practical steps we can take as a community to protect them.
Why Hedgehogs Need Our Help
Hedgehog populations have declined by over 50% in rural areas in the last two decades. Why? A combination of:
- New housing developments breaking up hedgerows and feeding grounds
- Garden fences with no gaps for movement
- Pesticides reducing natural food like beetles and worms
- Busy roads creating dangerous barriers
- Over-tidy gardens offering little shelter or nesting space
Hedgehogs can roam up to 2 miles a night in search of food. When gardens, fields, and hedgerows are blocked off, they become trapped, malnourished, or exposed to predators.
In villages like ours, where gardens sit side-by-side and hedgerows weave between properties, we have a unique opportunity to restore a natural network for hedgehogs to travel safely.
The Hedgehog Highway: Our Most Powerful Tool
One of the biggest obstacles hedgehogs face is simply getting from one garden to the next. Solid fences effectively trap them.
A simple fix?
Create a 13cm x 13cm “hedgehog highway” hole at the base of your fence.
It’s small enough to keep pets in, but perfectly sized for a hedgehog to pass through.
If multiple households do this, suddenly entire streets become connected green corridors.
Imagine Kempsey with a village-wide hedgehog highway – safe, free movement across the whole community.
Make Your Garden a Hedgehog Haven
You don’t need a huge outdoor space to make a difference. Even the smallest garden can become a lifeline.
1. Leave a Wild Corner
A small patch of long grass, leaves, or logs provides nesting material, shelter, and insects.
2. Build a Hedgehog House
A simple wooden shelter protects them during winter hibernation and rainy spells. You can buy one or build your own.
3. Put Out Water (But No Milk!)
Fresh water in a shallow dish is incredibly helpful, especially in summer.
Never give milk — it makes hedgehogs seriously ill.
4. Reduce or Avoid Pesticides
Poisons kill the insects hedgehogs rely on and can harm the hedgehogs themselves.
5. Check Before You Strim or Burn
Every year, hedgehogs die in bonfires, compost heaps, or long grass. A quick check saves lives.
Road Safety: A Real Threat in Rural Areas
Our village lanes – particularly at night – are known hedgehog danger zones. Hedgehogs move slowly and roll into a ball when frightened, which sadly offers no protection from cars.
We can help by:
- Taking extra care when driving after dark
- Supporting wildlife-friendly road signage where possible
- Reporting hedgehog sightings to build awareness of hotspots
Kempsey’s Green Spaces Matter
Our fields, hedgerows, and gardens form a patchwork of essential habitats. If we protect and enhance them, hedgehogs (and lots of other wildlife) benefit.
The community can help by:
- Supporting preservation of hedgerows
- Encouraging developers to include hedgehog highways
- Ensuring new gardens aren’t fully fenced without access gaps
- Promoting wildlife-friendly landscaping in public areas
Kempsey has the potential to lead by example – a rural village taking real, practical action for wildlife.
Get the Kids Involved
Teaching children about hedgehog protection is fun and impactful. They can:
- Make hedgehog posters
- Help build a hedgehog home
- Count garden visitors
- Learn about nocturnal animals
- Spread awareness at school
A village that teaches its children to protect wildlife creates a future that respects and values nature.
Small Actions, Big Impact
Protecting hedgehogs isn’t about grand gestures. It’s about lots of people doing small, simple things that collectively transform the landscape.
Imagine a Kempsey where:
- Every street has hedgehog highways
- Every garden offers shelter
- Everyone knows how to help these gentle creatures thrive
It’s achievable – and it starts with awareness, tiny changes, and community spirit.
Let’s Make Kempsey a Hedgehog-Friendly Village
If you create a hedgehog highway, build a shelter, or spot a hedgehog in your garden, let us know.
Share photos, tips, and sightings – together we can map the movement of these much-loved animals through our village.
Kempsey’s wildlife belongs to all of us.
And with a little effort, we can make sure our hedgehogs remain part of village life for generations to come.
