🦔🐾 Granny's Hedgehog Hotel – A Garden Pals Blog! 🐾🦔

Hello Garden Pals! 🌼

We’ve got a very exciting garden update from one of our own!

One of our awesome Garden Pals has created a special little place just for our prickly garden friends… hedgehogs!

Let’s take a peek at her amazing hedgehog feeding station and learn how you can help hedgehogs all year round too!

🏡 A Tiny Wooden Hideaway

Alice built a cosy little wooden house and placed it safely against a wall in her garden.

Made out of off cuts and spare timber and the help of her parents - was a cheap and simple project. Hedgehogs are shy and like dark, quiet spaces, so this is just perfect there’s even a little brick entrance to stop bigger animals getting in.!

Can you see how the roof is slanted? That helps the rain slide right off—no soggy hedgehogs here!

Hedgehogs would definitely give this place a big thumbs-up (if they had thumbs)! 🌧️➡️

🔍 What’s Inside?

When you lift the lid… surprise! It’s a little café for hedgehogs! 🦔🍽️

There’s a snack corner with tasty hedgehog biscuits (these look a bit like dry cat food—hedgehogs love it!). There’s also a clever wooden tunnel inside that helps keep out cats and foxes, so only hedgehogs can reach the food safely.

Make sure you have a way of getting in there as Hedgehogs can be a little messy so having a way to clean up after them is important. 

💦 Don’t Forget Drinks - Its Thirsty Work!

Outside, there’s a shallow blue bowl filled with fresh water.

Hedgehogs get really thirsty and need water every day, especially during warm weather or after waking up from hibernation. A low bowl is just right for their short little legs!

Remember: never give hedgehogs milk—it makes them poorly! 🚫🥛✔️💧

🍽️ What’s On the Menu?

Inside the hedgehog café is a tub of special hedgehog food. It looks like crunchy cat biscuits, but it’s full of good things that hedgehogs need:

Hedgehog food usually includes: 🥩 Meat-based protein (like chicken or turkey) 🌾 Whole grains (like rice or oats) 🛡️ Added vitamins and minerals 💩 Sometimes mealworms (but not too many – they can upset their tummies!)

You can also feed hedgehogs:

• Wet cat or dog food (meaty, not fishy)

• Cooked chicken (no bones or spices!)

• Chopped boiled egg

• NEVER give them milk, bread, or salty foods – those can make them very sick!

⚠️ Garden Dangers to Watch Out For

While your garden might seem safe, there are some hidden dangers to hedgehogs:

🚫 Pesticides and slug pellets – These are poisonous! Use natural slug control instead. 

🚫 Garden netting – Hedgehogs can get tangled up! Keep it off the ground. 

🚫 Pond edges – If you have a pond, make sure there's a gentle ramp or rock for them to climb out. 

🚫 Bonfires or log piles – Always check before lighting, as hedgehogs might be napping inside! 

🚫 Litter – Keep your garden tidy. Plastic rings, bags, and cans can hurt animals.

🌦️ Hedgehog Care in Every Season

🐣 SPRING

• Hedgehogs wake up from hibernation hungry and tired.

• Put out food and water every evening to help them regain energy.

• They’ll be looking for places to nest, so log piles and bushes are great.

☀️ SUMMER

• Hedgehogs are busy eating and caring for hoglets (baby hedgehogs!).

• Keep water topped up, especially during hot days.

• Avoid mowing or strimming until you’ve checked for wildlife.

🍂 AUTUMN

• Young hoglets need to get fat enough for winter sleep.

• Put out high-protein food and watch out for late babies who need extra help.

• You can weigh them if needed — they should be over 450g to hibernate safely.

❄️ WINTER

• Most hedgehogs hibernate in piles of leaves, logs, or special hedgehog houses.

• Don’t disturb sleeping hogs unless you think they’re in danger.

• Still put out water and a bit of food — some hedgehogs wake up for snacks!

🦔 Be a Hedgehog Hero!

Here’s how you can help:

✅ Build or buy a hedgehog house 

✅ Leave a corner of your garden wild 

✅ Put out food and water 

✅ Talk to friends and family about protecting hedgehogs 

✅ Keep a hedgehog diary – note when you see them and what they eat!

This feeding station is a super example of how kids can care for wildlife. Thank you, Alice – you’re a true Garden Pal! 🌼💚

Do you have hedgehogs visiting your garden? We’d love to see your pictures, drawings, or your own “Hog Hotel” creations. Send them in and you could be featured in our next blog!