November garden warning: will you cut a 13cm hole to help 1m hedgehogs and protect your veg?

This November, wildlife groups are urging householders to create a simple “hedgehog highway” by cutting a 13cm by 13cm gap at the base of garden fences. The tweak helps hungry hedgehogs roam for food before hibernation and gives gardeners a natural, nightly pest patrol.

Why a 13cm gap matters

Hedgehogs do not respect property lines. They range across many gardens each evening, hunting for beetles, worms and caterpillars. Solid fence panels act like walls. A small opening reconnects plots and restores the feeding routes these animals rely on to fatten up for winter.

The recommended opening measures 13cm by 13cm. It is large enough for a hedgehog, yet too tight for most pets. Place it at ground level where fence panels meet soil. Do the same along side return fences if your garden is L‑shaped.

Cut a 13cm by 13cm aperture at the base of your fence this month. You will join a chain of gardens into a hedgehog highway.

A species under pressure — facts and numbers

Britain’s hedgehogs once numbered in the tens of millions. Estimates suggest a fall from around 30 million in the mid‑20th century to fewer than 1 million today. Suburban sprawl, hard boundaries, tidy gardens, traffic and pesticides all contribute to the drop.

In towns, the picture now shows hints of stabilisation where residents open access and reduce chemicals. Rural populations continue to slide. Action on home plots still matters because a surprising number of animals pass through our streets by night.

Up to ten different hedgehogs can visit a single garden across several nights, travelling close to a mile under cover of darkness.

How to make a hedgehog highway safely in a day

You can complete the job with basic tools. Aim for neat edges and a consistent height so soil or debris does not clog the route.

• Pick a quiet corner on a shared boundary and speak to your neighbour first.
• Mark a 13cm square at the base of a wooden panel or gravel board.
• Cut the hole with a jigsaw or handsaw; smooth rough edges to prevent splinters.
• On brick or concrete, drill pilot holes and remove a small section to size.
• Fit a hedgehog hole plate or a simple timber frame to stop collapse and keep the shape clear.
• Repeat on the opposite side to link gardens into a continuous route.

Will cats or foxes use the hole? myths and realities

Most cats will jump a fence rather than squeeze under it. The 13cm square is too snug for many dogs and too low for people. Foxes already slip through existing gaps and hedges, so the change makes little difference to their routes.

Rodents fit through smaller spaces than you think, with or without a hedgehog gap, so the hole does not create a new risk. Good compost practice and secure feed bins remain the better control.

November timing, hibernation and feeding

November sits on the cusp of hibernation. Adults and late‑born juveniles are still foraging for body fat. Gardens that offer safe access and reliable food help them reach a healthy weight before the longest cold snaps.

Target weight for hibernation is around 450g or more. Underweight juveniles roaming in daylight may need specialist help.

Breeding usually peaks in June and July, with a second litter often arriving in late summer. Youngsters from August and September may still be learning routes now. A clear corridor between adjoining plots increases their odds of finding insects and safe shelter.

What to put out and what to avoid

• Provide shallow dishes of fresh water. Replace daily to prevent freezing and contamination.
• Offer meaty, jelly‑based cat or dog food, or a labelled hedgehog mix. Avoid fish flavours if possible.
• Never give milk or bread. Both can cause illness and dehydration.
• Leave leaf piles in quiet corners for bedding. Avoid raking every last scrap from under shrubs.
• Use wildlife‑friendly slug control. Metaldehyde pellets harm hedgehogs by removing their prey.
• Check long grass before strimming. Hedgehogs curl up and blend in, which raises injury risk.
• Build bonfires on the day you light them. November piles are a magnet for shelter‑seeking animals.

Work with neighbours and check boundaries

Most boundary tweaks at ground level do not need permission, but shared fences belong to someone. Ask first, agree the position, and keep cuts away from posts or utility runs. On rented homes, read your tenancy terms and inform the landlord.

If your garden borders a public space, consider a hole on a side boundary instead. In terraces or cul‑de‑sacs, a cluster of homes acting together creates a network of connected plots that supports nightly roaming.

Extra ways to help beyond the hole

Build a simple hedgehog house from untreated timber with a short entrance tunnel that excludes dogs. Face the opening away from prevailing winds and tuck it behind a shrub on bare soil. Add dry leaves inside. Do not disturb once occupied.

Reduce night‑time glare. Motion lights that only trigger on people reduce stress for wildlife. Create a shallow beach or a brick ramp in ponds so animals can climb out. Swap part of your fence for a mixed native hedge to boost cover and insect life.

What success looks like

Look for small, dark droppings filled with shiny beetle fragments, narrow trails through fallen leaves, and tiny footprints in damp soil. A wildlife camera set low to the ground often confirms visitors within a few nights.

If you find a hedgehog out in daylight, wobbling, cold, or clearly underweight in late autumn, place it in a ventilated box with a warm bottle wrapped in a towel and contact a local wildlife rescue for advice. Keep it somewhere quiet away from pets while you wait for guidance.

A 30‑minute job with a saw and a ruler can boost your winter pest control and give Britain’s hedgehogs a fighting chance.

For those keen to go further, time a quick audit this weekend: count how many barriers block a straight line across your plot, note pesticide use over the past year, and list areas you could convert to leaf litter or log piles. Adjust one item each month. Small, steady changes stack up into a safer route map for nocturnal visitors and a healthier, more resilient garden for you.