We found out today that our hedgehog visitor is living in the garden (one noisy dog!) And my beloved partner choking on how much a hedgehog home costs to buy is now about to be harassed into building me one (after all he wont want to remove hedgehog anger from the dog).
Can anyone tell me the advantages of certain styles (some have a tunnel AND two chambers, others just the one chamber), and whether decking wood (I.e. pressure treated) is a suitable building material?
Hi Clari - our hedgehog seems to prefer a homemade home rather than a bought one - we used a wooden 'orange box' crate from the farm shop - made a doorway/hole in one end - tacked polythene over the top but left the sides so plenty of air gets in and put it in a quiet corner under the trees and facing a wall about 6" away so there was a sort of tunnel then he had to turn left to get into the box. We covered it with a heap of prunings and runner bean haulm and dried leaves and left him to find it - which he did. We put a few dried leaves and a little hay in there and left some laying around for him to use which he has done - he's also used a bit of black plastic 'potting on module' as a door which he pulls in behind him to close the door when he goes back to bed.
We have a smart wooden one with two chambers which was used the first winter, but not since.
Years ago we had a hedgehog make a nest and have babies in the shed under a workbench in a large plastic bag full of paint-rags - there's no accounting for tastes when it comes to hedgehog homes
“I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh
Thanks Dove! I'm loving the mental imagery of a hedgehog closing a door behind him. We'll have to see what his lordship produces (I've told him I need his help on Sunday to prepare the garden for winter since he's so far failed to finish any garden projects and knows that my spine simply wont allow a lot of jobs so here's hoping he'll be inspired!)
Spike was late for din dins last night , but it's all gone this morning.
Dove, I was thinking of putting a house under that conifer hedge at the back of the bed below the terrace. What do you think? Away from wind, in these parts, that's hard to find, and a lot of detritus around too.
Not really a lot to see Hosta - looking down on it
Can you see the shiny black front door!
This is the posh one - I'm going to move it and put a heap of rubbish over it! In fact they're both going to have to be moved 'cos the tree trunk in the first picture is the ash tree that's coming down and the stump's going to be ground out!
Under a conifer hedge is where we found Hefty when we moved here - after we'd had the conifers felled!!! Sounds an ideal spot. Put some dry twigs and perennial stalks in a heap under there and some dry leaves - they seem to like leaves about the size of apple tree leaves best. I'm sure Spike'll find it attractive - you've probably got several 'Spikes' around there
“I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh
Good news round about where I live. Visited three garden centres to buy a hedgehog house and all three had sold out! One lady in the garden centre said that they'd had stock for four years and were lucky to sell one or two per year, but over the last month they've been snapped up.
ive ended up buying one from Amazon for £27 - wooden base and slate roof. Hoping it arrives soon!
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We found out today that our hedgehog visitor is living in the garden (one noisy dog!) And my beloved partner choking on how much a hedgehog home costs to buy is now about to be harassed into building me one (after all he wont want to remove hedgehog anger from the dog).
Can anyone tell me the advantages of certain styles (some have a tunnel AND two chambers, others just the one chamber), and whether decking wood (I.e. pressure treated) is a suitable building material?
Thanking in advance!
Hi Clari - our hedgehog seems to prefer a homemade home rather than a bought one - we used a wooden 'orange box' crate from the farm shop - made a doorway/hole in one end - tacked polythene over the top but left the sides so plenty of air gets in and put it in a quiet corner under the trees and facing a wall about 6" away so there was a sort of tunnel then he had to turn left to get into the box. We covered it with a heap of prunings and runner bean haulm and dried leaves and left him to find it - which he did. We put a few dried leaves and a little hay in there and left some laying around for him to use which he has done - he's also used a bit of black plastic 'potting on module' as a door which he pulls in behind him to close the door when he goes back to bed.
We have a smart wooden one with two chambers which was used the first winter, but not since.
Years ago we had a hedgehog make a nest and have babies in the shed under a workbench in a large plastic bag full of paint-rags - there's no accounting for tastes when it comes to hedgehog homes
Thanks Dove! I'm loving the mental imagery of a hedgehog closing a door behind him. We'll have to see what his lordship produces (I've told him I need his help on Sunday to prepare the garden for winter since he's so far failed to finish any garden projects and knows that my spine simply wont allow a lot of jobs so here's hoping he'll be inspired!)
Dove , I'd love to see your wee hog hoose.
Spike was late for din dins last night , but it's all gone this morning.
Dove, I was thinking of putting a house under that conifer hedge at the back of the bed below the terrace. What do you think? Away from wind, in these parts, that's hard to find, and a lot of detritus around too.
Not really a lot to see Hosta - looking down on it
Can you see the shiny black front door!
This is the posh one - I'm going to move it and put a heap of rubbish over it! In fact they're both going to have to be moved 'cos the tree trunk in the first picture is the ash tree that's coming down and the stump's going to be ground out!
Under a conifer hedge is where we found Hefty when we moved here - after we'd had the conifers felled!!! Sounds an ideal spot. Put some dry twigs and perennial stalks in a heap under there and some dry leaves - they seem to like leaves about the size of apple tree leaves best. I'm sure Spike'll find it attractive - you've probably got several 'Spikes' around there
right, sorted. Add that project to the list.
Good news round about where I live. Visited three garden centres to buy a hedgehog house and all three had sold out! One lady in the garden centre said that they'd had stock for four years and were lucky to sell one or two per year, but over the last month they've been snapped up.
ive ended up buying one from Amazon for £27 - wooden base and slate roof. Hoping it arrives soon!