A hedgehog house offers a quiet place to shelter, but it cannot help if hedgehogs cannot get into the garden or if the box is disturbed. You can build one from untreated timber, give it an entrance around 13 cm by 13 cm, add a covered tunnel and set it in a dry, shaded corner. Leave dry leaves nearby and let the animal decide whether to use it. The dimensions and design principles come from Hedgehog Street’s house guide.
Hi there, fellow DIYer,
Autumn is a good time to make a quiet corner less tidy. A log pile and fallen leaves can be as useful as a built box. If you enjoy making things, a small shelter is another option. Build it so it stays dry, can be cleaned later and gives a hedgehog room to turn without inviting a larger animal straight in.
Check garden access first
A hedgehog may travel between several gardens while looking for food and shelter. Hedgehog Street recommends a 13 cm square gap at ground level in a suitable fence or wall so hedgehogs can pass. Check who owns a shared boundary and that any alteration will not weaken it. A beautiful house behind an inaccessible fence is unlikely to be occupied.
Leave a quiet patch with leaves, a log pile or a hedge base if you can. Hedgehog Street’s housing advice describes these natural nesting spots as valuable alternatives to an artificial house.
A sound small-house design
Follow the Hedgehog Street illustrated plan for a complete build. Its key choices are:
- Untreated wood for a homemade house, with smooth edges and secure joints.
- Entrance approximately 13 cm by 13 cm, with a tunnel or internal baffle that gives some protection from predators.
- Roof that lifts for later cleaning but is secure against wind and other animals.
- Dry, sheltered interior without exposed fasteners or loose plastic that could trap an animal.
- Dry leaves or straw available nearby so a hedgehog can arrange its own nest.
Do not paint the inside, use wood treated with hazardous preservatives or make a wet, airtight plastic box. A simple wooden shelter with a roof that sheds rain is easier to check after winter. If using a recycled box, follow the wildlife organisation’s specific ventilation and entrance design rather than merely cutting a hole in a sealed container.
A house is not a feeding station. Hedgehog Street advises against putting food or water inside the sleeping house, as this may put off a hedgehog that wants a quiet nest. Water and supplementary food, if offered, belong in a separate suitable place.
Choose a quiet position
The British Hedgehog Preservation Society advises a sheltered, shady and dry spot against a wall, fence, hedge or shed, with cover. It recommends avoiding an entrance facing north or north-east into cold winter winds. Keep the box away from regular foot traffic, pond edges and places where a dog will investigate it.
Do not repeatedly lift the roof to see whether it is occupied. A hedgehog may use the box for daytime sleep, breeding or winter shelter. A twig loosely placed near the entrance can give a clue that someone has passed, without opening the box. It is not proof of which animal visited.
Through winter and into spring
Leave an occupied or possibly occupied house alone. Do not move it, turn it over or clean it during hibernation or the breeding season. Hedgehog Street suggests cleaning in March or April, only after confirming it is empty and before breeding begins. Wear gloves and follow its cleaning guidance. If you are uncertain whether the box is occupied, leave it alone.
A hedgehog out in daylight, staggering, injured or unusually weak needs expert advice. Avoid using a simple “under 500 g” rule to decide whether to pick up every autumn youngster. The British Hedgehog Preservation Society’s autumn-juvenile guidance considers behaviour, season, weather and weight together; it discourages rescue based on weight alone for animals above 450 g. Contact a hedgehog rescue or the BHPS for advice if worried. Do not give milk.
Before you set it down
| Check | Ready? |
|---|---|
| Hedgehogs have a route into and through the garden | ☐ |
| Entrance and tunnel follow the wildlife plan | ☐ |
| Timber and inside surfaces are safe and untreated | ☐ |
| Roof sheds rain and can be removed later | ☐ |
| Position is quiet, shaded and dry | ☐ |
| Leaves are available nearby; food is outside the house | ☐ |
The best outcome is a house you mostly forget about. Place it well, let leaves gather and give its visitors peace. If a hedgehog chooses a log pile instead, the garden is still doing a useful job.
Best wishes from Fred Schouten