As part of our 'Time for Bed' autumn activities, we’re making houses for hedgehogs and collecting material to turn into the perfect des res for our prickly friends.
Creating a place for a weary hedgehog to lay its head isn’t too difficult a task - it just take a little ingenuity and a bit of effort. So here’s how you can make a simple ‘hogitat’.
Start with a large cardboard box and cut two air vents (about 15cm by 5cm) in each side and an entrance (approx 15cm in diameter) in the front. Line the interior with dry leaves and then place the box near a hedge, if possible with the entrance facing south. Finally, cover with plastic to keep out the rain - an ‘opened up’ bin liner is perfect. It’s a good idea to then camouflage the box with twigs and grass.
As well as leaves, grass, straw, bracken and moss, shredded newspaper is perfect for the interior décor. These are all efficient insulators and essential to keep out the cold.
In the wild, hedgehogs will turn any combination of these items into cosy homes under hedgerows or fallen logs. The technical name for these are hibernacula and they are surprisingly waterproof and warm. But we think hogitats sound so much cosier.