Adopt the Hedgehog
It’s a bit late in the year to be thinking about helping these guys find a home in which to hibernate. But spare a thought if you are planning a revamp of your garden. The hedgehog is heading for the endangered list with serious decline in numbers between 2001 and 2005 being recorded by the Mammals Trust UK.
Old fashioned gardens had ‘wild’ places such as compost and mown grass areas. These were usually at the bottom hidden behind a hedge. These were safe havens for the little creatures that come out at night and munch away at our slug population.
With the trend for tidy gardens, we are doing away with the little hidey-holes where hedgehogs like to sleep and hibernate. They do such a good job keeping our gardens free of pests and only ask for bed and board. Much cheaper than chemicals which might kills slugs but also kill the birds that eat the slugs.
So, if you are looking for a worthy news year’s resolution: Find a hedgehog and give it a home.