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Daily Record
a day ago
- General
- Daily Record
Gardeners advised to cut holes in fences this summer to help one animal
Householders should follow the expert advice during the warmer months. During the warmer summer months, householders are being advised to drill holes in their garden fences to help an endangered animal. Hedgehogs are a garden favourite, however, in recent years, numbers have significantly dropped across Britain. This is down to changes in the environment as well as modern gardening, and how we clean and run our homes. Householders are now being encouraged to do everything they can to help the animals survive and thrive in our gardens. According to experts, they are a great pest exterminator and are great at eating various pests that may be causing havoc in your gardens. The RSPCA says that hedgehogs are always on the move, but they need help to get in and out of gardens, according to the Express. They said: "Hedgehogs are one of Britain's most recognisable and well-loved wild animals. Hedgehogs are a gardener's friend, as they eat beetles, caterpillars, worms and other invertebrates. "Did you know as many as 10 different hedgehogs may visit a garden over several nights? This could mean 'your hedgehog' is actually a number of different ones visiting at different times. "The European hedgehog is one of around 16 different species found throughout the world. They are also the species that are most often admitted to our specialist wildlife rehabilitation centres. "Hedgehogs can travel around a mile every night, so they may need help to get into and out of your garden. "Try cutting holes in fences, removing bricks from walls, or digging tunnels under the garden boundary. Hedgehogs can travel through gaps as small as 13x13cm, so these gaps don't need to be large. "Replacing garden fencing for native hedgerows provides access through your garden for hedgehogs. Hedgerows also provide shelter for other wildlife too. Remember to check with your neighbour before making a highway." Sadly, hedgehog numbers are significantly down in recent years, and one reason put forward to explain the drop relates to solid, impenetrable walls and fences being put up around houses. As wildlife shop NHBS says: "Research suggests that this is partly because it is becoming harder for hedgehogs to move freely due to an increase in the number of solid walls and fences being erected around gardens. "This reduces the available foraging area and so restricts the amount of food that they can eat as well as reducing the possibility of meeting a mate. Creating a hole in a garden wall or fence will allow your local hedgehogs to pass through from garden to garden safely." You can do this in a rough and ready way by simply cutting a small, roughly hedgehog sized hole in the bottom of the fence, or you could raise the entire panel by a few inches so that a hedgehog can squeeze underneath (but not so large that a person could). Alternatively, simply cut a few inches of wood off the bottom of the fence so that hedgehogs can slip under. You might think this makes it easier for cats, but they can leap over even six foot fences, so it won't increase feline invaders. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. If you want to do it properly, NHBS sells a hedgehog hole fence plate which will add a sturdy metal enforced gap to the bottom of your fence. NHBS adds: "A hole measuring 13x13cm is the right size for a hedgehog to pass through but too small for most pets. Once you have made your hole in the fence or wall, you can fix the Eco Hedgehog Hole Plate to the fence, ensuring that the hole does not get blocked or stretched. "The plate has six screw holes, three along each side, which can be used to fix the plate to your fence or wall. Additional holes can be made in the plastic if required."


Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- General
- Daily Mirror
RSPCA urges gardeners to drill holes in their fences for important reason
Hedgehogs are an endangered species in the UK, partly due to the fact that the spiky creatures are struggling to make their way around built up areas and make their way into gardens Green-fingered Brits are being told to create escape routes in their garden boundaries this summer to rescue a beloved creature facing extinction. Hedgehog populations have plummeted dramatically across the UK in recent years. The prickly mammals have been devastated by environmental shifts alongside modern gardening practices and contemporary lifestyle choices affecting how we maintain our outdoor spaces. However, garden enthusiasts should be pulling out all the stops to welcome these spiny visitors during spring and summer months - as hedgehogs serve as brilliant natural pest controllers. These adorable creatures, beyond their undeniable charm, excel at devouring troublesome bugs that gardeners continuously struggle to eliminate from treasured vegetable patches and flower displays. The RSPCA explains that hedgehogs roam extensively but require assistance navigating between garden spaces, reports the Express. They explained: "Hedgehogs are one of Britain's most recognisable and well-loved wild animals. Hedgehogs are a gardener's friend, as they eat beetles, caterpillars, worms and other invertebrates. "Did you know as many as 10 different hedgehogs may visit a garden over several nights? This could mean 'your hedgehog' is actually a number of different ones visiting at different times. "The European hedgehog is one of around 16 different species found throughout the world. They are also the species that are most often admitted to our specialist wildlife rehabilitation centres. "Hedgehogs can travel around a mile every night, so they may need help to get into and out of your garden. Try cutting holes in fences, removing bricks from walls, or digging tunnels under the garden boundary. Hedgehogs can travel through gaps as small as 13x13cm, so these gaps don't need to be large. "Replacing garden fencing for native hedgerows provides access through your garden for hedgehogs. Hedgerows also provide shelter for other wildlife too. Remember to check with your neighbour before making a highway." Tragically, hedgehog populations have plummeted dramatically in recent years, with one key factor behind the decline being the rise of solid, impenetrable barriers and fencing erected around properties. Wildlife retailer NHBS explains: "Research suggests that this is partly because it is becoming harder for hedgehogs to move freely due to an increase in the number of solid walls and fences being erected around gardens. "This reduces the available foraging area and so restricts the amount of food that they can eat as well as reducing the possibility of meeting a mate. Creating a hole in a garden wall or fence will allow your local hedgehogs to pass through from garden to garden safely." This can be achieved simply by cutting a small, approximately hedgehog-sized opening at the base of your fencing, or alternatively lifting the entire panel by several inches to allow the creatures to squeeze beneath (whilst ensuring the gap isn't large enough for intruders to crawl through). Alternatively, you could simply trim a few inches off the bottom of your fence to allow hedgehogs to slip under. While this might seem like an invitation for cats, they can easily leap over six-foot fences, so it won't increase the number of feline intruders. If you're keen on doing it properly, NHBS offers a hedgehog hole fence plate that adds a sturdy metal-enforced gap at the bottom of your fence. NHBS advises: "A hole measuring 13cm by 13cm is the right size for a hedgehog to pass through but too small for most pets. Once you have made your hole in the fence or wall, you can fix the Eco Hedgehog Hole Plate to the fence, ensuring that the hole does not get blocked or stretched. "The plate has six screw holes, three along each side, which can be used to fix the plate to your fence or wall. Additional holes can be made in the plastic if required."


Daily Mirror
01-07-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Gardeners urged to drill holes in fences before summer is over
Hedgehog numbers are significantly down in the UK in recent years, but gardeners should be doing everything they can to attract the spiky echidnas into their gardens this summer British gardeners are being encouraged to make a small change with big impact for our prickly friends by drilling holes in their fences before the summer ends. The reason behind this wildlife-friendly appeal is the alarming decline of hedgehog numbers across the UK, a decline exacerbated by modern gardening choices and the way we manage our households. However, green-fingered enthusiasts should be keen to welcome these spiky visitors as hedgehogs serve as excellent natural pest controllers, feasting on slugs and snails that threaten our cherished gardens. Coming out to feast on garden pests during late summer and early autumn, now is the perfect time to prepare your outdoor space for hedgehog guests. But sadly, these helpful critters face challenges beyond just diminishing numbers; solid fences and walls around properties have restricted their movement and ability to find food or mates, reports the Express. As noted by NHBS experts: "Research suggests that this is partly because it is becoming harder for hedgehogs to move freely due to an increase in the number of solid walls and fences being erected around gardens. "This reduces the available foraging area and so restricts the amount of food that they can eat as well as reducing the possibility of meeting a mate. Creating a hole in a garden wall or fence will allow your local hedgehogs to pass through from garden to garden safely." You can achieve this in a simple way by just cutting a small, roughly hedgehog-sized hole at the bottom of the fence, or you could lift the entire panel by a few inches so that a hedgehog can squeeze underneath (but not so large that a person could). Alternatively, simply cut a few inches of wood off the bottom of the fence so that hedgehogs can slip under. You might worry this makes it easier for cats, but they can leap over even six-foot fences, so it won't increase feline visitors. If you want to do it properly, NHBS sells a hedgehog hole fence plate which will add a sturdy metal enforced gap to the bottom of your fence. NHBS adds: "A hole measuring 13cm by 13cm is the right size for a hedgehog to pass through but too small for most pets. "Once you have made your hole in the fence or wall, you can fix the Eco Hedgehog Hole Plate to the fence, ensuring that the hole does not get blocked or stretched. "The plate has six screw holes, three along each side, which can be used to fix the plate to your fence or wall. Additional holes can be made in the plastic if required."