To attract hedgehogs, put out a shallow bowl of fresh water and meaty wet or dry cat food (or specially made hedgehog food) in a quiet area of your garden at dusk, when they are most active. Create safe shelter with a hedgehog house, a pile of leaves, or logs where they can rest and hibernate. Leave a small gap under your fence so they can move between gardens, avoid using pesticides, and never give them milk or bread, as these can make them sick.

You can build a hedgehog home by using a sturdy wooden box with a small entrance (about 13 × 13 cm), a waterproof roof, and ventilation holes. Place it in a quiet, shaded part of your garden, hidden under bushes or against a hedge. Fill it with dry leaves, straw, or hay to keep it warm and comfortable, and avoid disturbing it once a hedgehog has moved in.

To keep a safe environment for hedgehogs, make your garden as natural and hazard-free as possible. Avoid using pesticides and slug pellets, as these can poison hedgehogs and reduce their food supply. Leave piles of leaves, logs, and wild areas for shelter, and provide a shallow bowl of fresh water. Check carefully before mowing long grass, using strimmers, or lighting bonfires, as hedgehogs may be hiding underneath. If you have a pond, add a gentle slope or ramp so hedgehogs can climb out if they fall in.