01/11/2026
🦔 𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗦𝗠𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗛𝗢𝗟𝗘 𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗟𝗗 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗔𝗡 𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗥𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗘𝗧 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗛𝗘𝗗𝗚𝗘𝗛𝗢𝗚𝗦.
𝗜𝗧 𝗢𝗡𝗟𝗬 𝗡𝗘𝗘𝗗𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗕𝗘 𝟭𝟯 × 𝟭𝟯 𝗖𝗠. 𝗕𝗨𝗧 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜𝗧 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗦 𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗟𝗗 𝗕𝗘 𝗠𝗨𝗖𝗛 𝗕𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗥.
Imagine a Hedgehog visiting your garden tonight.
The lawn has insects. There is water beneath the birdbath. Beyond the fence, your neighbour has a patch of wild grass and fallen leaves.
But the Hedgehog cannot reach it.
A perfectly neat wooden fence stands in the way.
And another fence beyond that.
And another.
𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗕𝗟𝗘𝗠 𝗜𝗦𝗡'𝗧 𝗔𝗟𝗪𝗔𝗬𝗦 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧'𝗦 𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗜𝗗𝗘 𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗚𝗔𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗦.
It's whether wildlife can move between them.
During their active season, Hedgehogs may travel a mile or more in a night, searching for food, shelter and mates.
One garden is rarely enough.
When solid fences and walls divide an entire neighbourhood into separate little spaces, those journeys become much harder.
𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗢𝗟𝗨𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗖𝗔𝗡 𝗕𝗘 𝗦𝗨𝗥𝗣𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗟𝗬 𝗦𝗠𝗔𝗟𝗟.
Wildlife conservation organisations recommend leaving a gap measuring approximately 𝟭𝟯 × 𝟭𝟯 𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀 at the bottom of suitable garden boundaries.
That's enough for a Hedgehog to pass through.
And if neighbouring gardens have matching passages, those small openings can become a connected wildlife route.
It's often called a 𝗛𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗴 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘄𝗮𝘆.
𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘'𝗦 𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗖𝗔𝗡 𝗛𝗘𝗟𝗣.
Speak to your neighbour first.
Choose a safe boundary, away from hazards such as busy roads.
If appropriate, create a 13 × 13 cm opening in a wooden fence panel, taking care not to weaken the structure.
Smooth any sharp edges and keep the passage clear.
Then encourage others along the street to do the same.
One opening is helpful.
Several connected openings can make a much greater difference.
𝗔 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗧
You don't need an enormous garden or a countryside property to contribute to wildlife conservation.
Sometimes, the most useful thing you can provide isn't more food or another shelter.
It's a way through.
💚 𝗔 𝗟𝗜𝗧𝗧𝗟𝗘 𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗜𝗡 𝗔 𝗙𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘 𝗖𝗔𝗡 𝗛𝗘𝗟𝗣 𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗡 𝗦𝗘𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗚𝗔𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗡𝗦 𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗢 𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗡𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗘𝗗 𝗛𝗔𝗕𝗜𝗧𝗔𝗧.
Would you consider making a Hedgehog Highway in your garden? Or have you already made one?
