Helping hedgehogs thrive again

In the last 20 years, hedgehog numbers dropped by a third in urban areas. Towns and cities can provide lots of shelter and food for hedgehogs, but the increase in paved-over front gardens, impenetrable garden fences, and busy roads has impacted urban hedgehog populations.  

This year, our ‘Go WILD for hedgehogs’ campaign is encouraging people to create wild areas in their gardens, that will benefit our hedgehogs and other wildlife. Gardens are such an important space for hedgehogs, providing insect food, shelter and places to hibernate, so the more gardens with a wild area the better.  

Sadly, hedgehogs in rural areas are still declining at a worrying rate. Over the past few decades, huge areas of natural habitat and miles of wildlife-rich hedgerows have been transformed. There’s far less room for wildlife, and drastically fewer invertebrates which hedgehogs rely on. We’re working directly with farmers and landowners to restore habitats and improve conditions for hedgehogs.  

We’re also running a national hedgehog survey to build the first robust population estimates. With cameras placed in gardens, farms and across the countryside, volunteers are helping us understand where hedgehogs are thriving, and where they need urgent help. This means we can take targeted action in the right places, before it’s too late. 

We’re doing more than ever to help hedgehogs, and with the support of PTES donors, we can continue creating positive change for hedgehogs. 

If you’re able to give today, you could help us reach more people, restore more habitats and protect hedgehogs across the UK in 2026 and beyond.

Thank you.

Header image credit Christopher Morgan