Hedgehogs may not be plentiful in local gardens (see the discussion of the wildlife survey findings earlier this year), but they are breeding in the Grove in Alexandra Park, as reported in the June newsletter of the Friends of Alexandra Park. The Park maintenance team have made some hedgehog-sized holes in the fence of the ex-deer enclosure to allow the hedgehogs more room to roam in search of food. The Friends are also encouraging locals whose gardens border the park to make hedgehog holes in their fences (see below), to provide a larger area for them to roam in.
Hedgehogs need plenty of food, and interconnected gardens in which to search for it (about 5 gardens each!), but many gardens are too securely fenced to allow hedgehogs entry (this is apparently one reason why they have declined by a third in this country since the millennium). The campaign group Hedgehog Street explains how you can make your own hedgehog holes (about 5inches/12.5cms square). See also the video from the Wildlife Garden Project on how to help hedgehogs in your garden.
The monthly newsletter of the Friends of Alexandra Park is very informative about local wildlife and activities and events in the Park - members receive it by email, as well as the opportunity to join the members' walks, and priority booking for their other walks and talks. The Friends also work to promote the use of Alexandra Park, encouraging conservation of wildlife, and protecting the Park from unwanted development. You can join for £5 per household per year.
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This is such good news. We had a hedgehog in our garden in 2014 but no sign of them since then.