Hedgehog Houses

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If you have hedgehogs in your garden, please look after them well. You are one of the very few lucky ones to still enjoy the presence of these endangered animals

Wildlife World are the biggest manufacturer for high quality hedgehog houses. They make 5 types, available from good pet stores, garden centres and many online stores All styles of houses are beautifully designed and crafted, classy and a real asset to your garden. Useful for hedgehogs, aesthetically pleasing for us. If you don't like to order online,  You can also order direct by phone from Ark Wildlife Who stock the entire wildlife world range.  Phone: 0800 085 4865  Please say you were referred by Epping Forest Hedgehog Rescue if phoning or visiting
The original Hedgehog House (HH1) is constructed from durable timber/oak/larch/birch with double layered roof for waterproofing and insulation and oak floor. The entrance tunnel provides protection from domestic cats and dogs, foxes and badgers. There is a hinged inspection door at the back for  cleaning and inspection of sick or rescued hedgehogs. The house comes complete with vent pipe and instructions. The new, improved version has a much bigger back door to make it easier to clean out and more friendly to use. Size: 195x385x430   Buy this house online from:  Ark Wildlife  Ecotopia   Amazon.co.uk
The larger Hedgehog Habitat (HH4) provides a safe home for hedgehogs in the garden and is suitable for hibernation, breeding and summer shelter. Heavy construction from durable FSC timbers gives strength and longevity. The raised timber floor keeps damp out. Its robust, all-screwed construction withstands crushing/strimming. A specially constructed internal tunnel allows the hedgehog in but deters predators. The removable roof is double skinned for insulation and weather protection, allowing easy cleaning and inspection of sick or rescued hedgehogs. It is a perfect safe place for a mum to have her babies in the summer. Size: 270x420x480 Buy this house online from: Ecotopia  Note: this house appears to have been withdrawn by the manufacturers so will only be available for a limited time
The Wildlife World Hogitat (HH5) is designed to be an attractive natural home and safe retreat for hedgehogs. It features a sturdy, rust-proofed steel frame, a waterproofed roof with an attractive natural finish, and a predator defence tunnel. Specifically designed to blend into the garden setting, the Hogitat has an attractive natural appearance that will comfortably nestle into any garden environment.  Principally natural materials and appearance. Economic yet effective safe retreat for hedgehogs, or small mammals. Size: 250x430x500 Buy this house online from:  Ark Wildlife Ecotopia  RecycleWorks   Amazon.co.uk
Wildlife World  also sell a purpose-built hedgehog feeding station (HHF). It  is a perfect size for 2 bowls of food and allows a large hedgehog to eat easily. It has a maze-like entrance to prevent cats and foxes etc stealing the food. Hedgehogs can be messy eaters, so put plenty of newspaper on the floor of the box It will be available from all good pet shops, garden centres and online stores that also sell the rest of their range. Please encourage your pet shop or garden centre to order it from them. It is an ideal size to also use as a hedgehog house, so is a dual purpose design Buy from Ecotopia      Buy from Ark Wildlife
The Hedgehog Care Home 'Hogilo' hedgehog house is a purpose built nesting box and habitat for hedgehogs which can be used as a sheltered hedgehog feeder instead, if preferred. It is an ideal house for injured or rescue hogs due to the design of the house, which allows for easy inspection and cleaning. Features include: • Manufactured from durable FSC timber and Recycled Plastic • Wooden interior for 'breathability' and condensation prevention • Lid & sides made from recycled agricultural waste • Lid easily swivels over to expose large inspection and cleaning hatch • Lid incorporates wooden 'plug' to insulate hatch aperture • Overhanging roof and porch • Raised battened feet to prevent rot • Predator-resistant entrance • Can be used as a safe feeding lounge Buy from Ark Wildlife
Now you have hedgehogs living in your garden. Why not help more of them and have more houses?

Other purpose-built hedgehog houses can also be purchased online or by phone from: 

• Ark Wildlife  Various houses from £35 to £45

• CJ wildbird foods phone: 0800 7312820 for approx £45

• Direct from British Hedgehog Preservation Society on 01584 890801

• Ebay.co.uk always have lots of different houses for sale

Any of the houses you buy need to be covered in roofing felt to protect from the weather and prevent leaks. Please don't rely on the small amounts that the manufacturers put on.

Where to put the house

The ideal place for the house is under a hedge, large shrub or similar concealed place to make it as natural as possible.

Never put it in direct sunlight. Behind a shed or in a quiet shady corner is fine if you haven't got any bushes or shrubs.

Put a couple of slabs under the hedge to protect the box from the damp ground and keep it fairly level (cost about 90p each from your local DIY store), then put a rubber doormat with holes to allow drainage on top of the slabs, with the box sitting on the mat, this allows rain water to run away under the box without any danger of the box getting flooded.

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These show nesting boxes hidden under shrubs in a garden, covered with roofing felt to keep them warm and dry

Fill it ¾ full with hay and your hedgehog will soon take up residence. It may take a few weeks for the hedgehog to adopt the box, but rest assured it soon will. Often during the summer the box will be used by a mother to have babies or as a temporary shelter for the odd night or two and then during the winter a hedgehog will take up permanent residence and hibernate safely & successfully..

When you first put it down, check after the first rain storm that there are no leaks, we found that what we thought was a waterproof house wasn't, the felt had slipped when I placed it. If the felt tears or cracks then just place another sheet over the existing one, a couple of layers make for good insulation.

It is a very good idea to keep a spare sheet of felt or tarpaulin and a bag of hay around for emergencies .

Please try to put a box or other shelter down early in the year so the hedgehog can get used to it and knows it's there, especially if there is bad weather before hibernation time.

Once the house is being used, it just needs a quick clean clean out twice a year, in March/April when the hedgehog wakes up from hibernation & again in September/October before the hibernation. Just take out all the old hay and give it a quick wipe around with a safe disinfectant (one you would use on your food preparation surfaces or one sold especially for animal use) DO NOT USE BLEACH, then refill with hay.

If you have hedgehogs visiting your garden & can't build or buy  a proper house then any shelter is better than none.  A good quick alternative is to lean a piece of plywood or board against the shed wall or similar sheltered place at 45º angle, put another piece raised on bricks underneath it as a floor and place a tarpaulin or piece of roofing felt over to make it waterproof, leaving just a small entrance at one end. Fill with hay and hope that a hedgehog will use it.

How to build a hedgehog House in a couple of hours

A quick and easy way is to buy a box similar to that shown below (House A) from one of the big DIY stores like B&Q , who do self assembly Pine Storage boxes for between £10 & £15 depending on size

Just assemble it, cut an approximately 5" square hole in a corner of one of the sides and cover the entire box with a sheet of roofing felt or plastic sheet/tarpaulin, (however tarpaulin being lighter weight will need to be very securely held down) leaving a raised gap around the hole, like an awning so the hedgehog can get in, but the water can't. Put a couple of bricks on the box roof on top of the felt to prevent it slipping off or being blown away.

If you build a tunnel entrance as is shown in house C below, then drape the felt all over with just a gap for hedgie to get in.

If you can't build a tunnel entrance, just place a brick each side of the entrance to support the felt/tarpaulin so it makes a little awning/porch.