New Hedgehog Nest Boxes in the Woodland
Published: 03/10/2024
Hidden around Norton Priory’s gardens and woodlands are several hedgehog nest boxes, designed to provide a safe place for hedgehogs to hibernate for the winter.
We’ve recently been gifted four new hedgehog boxes made specially for Norton Priory by Richard from Lowton Hedgehog Rescue. Two of them have since been placed in the woodland at Norton Priory, just in time for cooler weather!
Norton Priory has an established connection with Lowton Hedgehog Rescue, as there are several hedgehogs in the Walled Garden who have been released there by Lowton. They take in hedgehogs that need help and provide them with the care and medical attention that they need in order to be released back into the wild. Usually, they try to release hedgehogs close to where they were found, but sometimes a rescue will have a patient who would struggle in the wild. The Walled Garden is quite sheltered from predators so provides a safer (but still “wild”) environment for them to be released in. Maurice was a memorable example. He was missing a leg and was released in November 2021 in the Walled Garden!
The garden volunteers carry on working through the winter, doing a lot of work to clear and tidy the garden and prepare it for the next year. They know to keep an eye out for hibernating hedgehogs, and if they spot one they mark the area (usually with a stake) so that they know to avoid it and not disturb the sleeping hog.
Hedgehogs are endangered in the UK, with estimates of around a third of the population lost since 2000 (source). This makes efforts to try and help the hedgehog population extremely important. As Norton Priory has ideal habitats for hedgehogs, we are thrilled to help in any way we can!
Helping Hedgehogs
Hedgehogs need somewhere safe and dry to hibernate, like our nest boxes, and they use dry leaves as bedding. They eat a wide variety of things including beetles, earthworms, slugs, and snails. If you want to help them, make sure your garden has lots of places to hide and don’t rake up those leaves! Although you can buy specialist hedgehog food, they can also be given cat and dog food but never milk. If you spot a hedgehog that you think needs help, look for your nearest hedgehog or wildlife rescue for advice. This might include hedgehogs who are injured, seem ill, underweight, or are out during the day.
Maurice in 2021
