Homes for hedgehogs - Wilder Churches

Wilder Churches began in March 2021 as a partnership initiative between Somerset Wildlife Trust and the Diocese of Bath and Wells. The initiative aims to support communities to get to know the wildlife in their local churchyard, other church land or burial ground and work together to find ways to increase the value of these special places for wildlife.

Felicity – one of our participants, contacted us about the hedgehogs that have made a home in their grounds...

"I have two boxes – one in the Churchyard and one in the Community Garden – both used.  I placed them on firm ground, a little off the soil to keep dry and put a little Brambles Hedgehog food at the entrance, and some bedding inside in the autumn, and I wait for them to toddle in.  During the Pandemic I had a visiting hedgehog and always saw him when I felt lonely – did he know?  Do they have a sixth sense we have lost? Then one night I put food down in his little shelter only to find him sitting there waiting.  Later that summer I had mother and four hoglets."

This is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to actions you can take to protect Somerset’s hedgehogs. See below for some more ideas, and look out for emails from us over the next three months as we share lots of tips, ideas and fun facts about hedgehogs and how you can help the hogs in your garden.