Is it worth building a hedgehog shelter in your garden?

Hedgehogs are small, omnivorous mammals that feast on caterpillars, slugs and other garden pests. They are considered to be harmless animals that help to regulate pests naturally in the wild. Although it is illegal to keep hedgehogs as pets, you can welcome them into your vegetable garden! To do so, all you have to do is make things easier for them by providing them with enough shelter.

What's the point of having hedgehogs in your garden?

An insectivorous animal, they help to establish optimal biodiversity! Hedgehogs play an almost essential role in preserving your fruit and vegetables. It's a much-loved hunting animal that will help get rid of weevils, grasshoppers, snails, slugs, caterpillars and even chafer beetles. There are many other solutions for eradicating caterpillars, for example, but this animal is the most suitable ecological solution. It can even ward off snakes such as vipers that venture into your green spaces. It is a seasoned warrior that actively fights many pests. In no time at all, they'll be eliminating all the little creatures that attack your plants! If you don't have hedgehogs in your vegetable garden but would like to welcome a small family, there are a few tricks up your sleeve. However, we would like to remind you that it is forbidden to transport or buy a hedgehog. So you'll need to use your wiles and patience to attract them to your outdoor space.

The hedgehog, the best asset for permaculture vegetable gardens

For permaculture enthusiasts, hedgehogs are essential because you won't need to use chemical-based treatments to keep various pests at bay. Providing a suitable environment for these animals will bring you nothing but benefits and natural solutions for your permaculture vegetable garden. Once installed in your garden, the family of hedgehogs will quickly become an indispensable asset for the longevity of your plantations. A permaculture garden allows you to garden in a way that respects the planet and biodiversity. The fewer pesticides you use, the healthier your crops will be, free from substances that are harmful to your health. The benefits of permaculture are well proven! You'll eat healthily and enjoy better health!

How to set up a hedgehog shelter in your garden

If you've observed certain signs that indicate the presence of one or more hedgehogs in your vegetable garden, you can provide them with a comfortable home and a place where they'll be able to eat their fill. Hedgehogs like to take refuge from predators and spend their time basking. That's why hedgehogs are often found on woodland walks. All you have to do is help them build a shelter by gathering twigs, branches and dead leaves. Otherwise, in addition to helping them build their natural habitat, you can very well do it yourself from among the following landscaping solutions:

• You have the option of using a crate and then tinkering with it yourself, creating a small opening to make it a shelter that will keep your hedgehogs warm during the winter and give them a shady corner during the summer. Collect any plant debris you find in your garden and arrange it inside the box so that your little animals can take care of making their cosy little nest.
• You can also make them a bigger, more sophisticated shelter with logs of wood. These need to be approximately 60 cm high to optimise its shelter. Don't forget to leave a small entrance, neither too small nor too large, of around 25 cm. This space should be as accessible as possible to predators. If you have fallen leaves on the ground, you can use them to cover the habitat you have created for your hedgehog. You can also make a mulch.
• The other alternative is to make a shelter out of compost. The hedgehogs that will have found refuge in your exterior will quite happily take up residence there during both the cold and warm seasons. They'll have a comfortable nest to rest in and protect themselves from predators. In addition, they will be able to take advantage of the small insects that will be attracted by the compost in your vegetable garden.