How hedgehog-friendly is your garden? While these cute and prickly little creatures have been common around the UK for about 15 million years, the last 20 years have seen a sharp decline in their numbers.

Everything from habitat loss with the rise of urban development, increased road traffic and habitat fragmentation (i.e. fences and walls) means local hedgehogs face increasing danger in our modern world. There’s never been a better time to make safe spaces for these nocturnal creatures in your gardens, whether you have a small green space in a city or a sprawling countryside garden.

“One of the main reasons hedgehogs are struggling in Britain is because our fences and walls are becoming more and more secure, reducing the amount of land available to them,” Hedgehog Street (a joint campaign by People’s Trust for Endangered Species and The British Hedgehog Preservation Society) explains on their site.

One of the easiest and most important starting points to help the hogs move around is by installing a ‘hedgehog highway’ in your garden. These 13cm x 13cm square holes can be cut through or under a garden fence to connect neighbouring gardens. The little holes allow hedgehogs to move easily between green spaces searching for food, shelter and mates. Once connected, you can also create wild patches for them, leaving water and places to nest such as leaf and log piles or a hedgehog house in the garden for them to settle in.

Tony and Pam Francis

They really work; research has shown that 54% of those who installed a hedgehog highway went on to see an increase in hedgehog activity.

“Hedgehog highways are vital for hedgehogs to move through the urban landscape; our gardens can be a haven for them, but only if they can get in,” explains Grace Johnson, Hedgehog Officer for Hedgehog Street. “My top tip would be to consider the overall connectedness of the area; try to put highways on all sides of the garden, and connect the front to back as well if you can. Encouraging neighbours to do the same will ensure good access for hedgehogs!”