Nest in the greenhouse

[katieoxo60]

Just been to clear a box from greenhouse and low and behold there is a hedgehog hibernating underneath in a nest of autumn leaves. Shows that nature does not stand still, wasn't there when I went on holiday five days ago. Guess he will be staying for the winter now .

[Nanny1086]

Morning Katie,,,,,say hi to Henry hedgehog for me ,,,,a new garden friend ,xx

[katieoxo60 in reply to Nanny1086]

Will do xx

[Hidden]

How wonderful Katie! He took advantage of the quiet and made himself at home. You have a little friend for life now. Nature is amazing - I'm very happy for you, and him of course!

xx

[katieoxo60 in reply to Hidden]

No doubt he will keep coming back, I have a Robin that does that too. When we had cats, hedgehogs used to come and eat & drink the cats food. Used to have a frog too but not seen him for a long time. xx

[velvet55]

Hi Katie

How lovely, he will be nice and cosy in there.

Mr V has built a largish wooden hedgehog box, filled it with hay and autumn leaves, and it is tucked away in a very sheltered part of the garden.

So far every year since , we have had hedgehogs in the garden, and one always hibernates in the box.

xx

[katieoxo60 in reply to velvet55]

That sounds a good idea Velvet, a hedgehog box, mabe the grandchildren could build one . Got some wood and nails with plenty of leaves in the garden. xx

[casper99]

I didn't know they hibernated this early Katie. We had one in the garden at the beginning of summer and I was feeding it.

So, I order organic slug pellets off the internet. The hedgehog vanished and all my Hosta's and bedding plants were destroyed by snails instead.

I'll be ready for them next year haha xx

[katieoxo60 in reply to casper99]

I was surprised also, been getting my plant tubs scratched for ages put it down to urban foxes but must have been this hedgehog. Anyway see what happens now. Will let you know how it goes. Better change your slug pellets next year, I've got Hostas been there years but they do get a bit hole ridden in the summer by snails, look a bit like cheese plants, if you put pebbles round the base of hostas it stops the snails they can't tackle rough surfaces. Just one way .

[casper99 in reply to katieoxo60]

I'll give pebbles a go. I put loads of eggshells down at first but, they didn't last long. xx

[katieoxo60 in reply to casper99]

Glad to be of help, hope it works for you.

[velvet55 in reply to katieoxo60]

Crunched up dry egg shells, all round the outer rim of the pot....the little blighters hate slithering over them 😂😂

xx

[Jessy11]

Hi Katie, that's lovely! I've not seen a hedgehog round here for a while. 😔

But.... I have 2 little robins who visit every day. In fact they've been around for years. Is that possible? Don't know much about birds, must do some research! 😀

Also have red squirrels in the garden. They have great fun chasing each other over the lawn & climbing the trees. I love watching them.

Rabbits come in & out the garden as well. Probably on the hunt for food.

We're so lucky to have the little animals come to visit! 👍

Enjoy your little hedgehog. 🌺

[katieoxo60 in reply to Jessy11]

Used to have red and grey squirrels in our garden at another house, because we backed onto a wood. Where I live now is very industrial so wild life is usually birds. Robins tend to nest in the garden then the young return to nest when they are fully grown.

[Bagpuss1972]

Hedgehogs are such beautiful creatures x

[katieoxo60 in reply to Bagpuss1972]

their faces are so cute x

[fastball]

Are you sure its not sleeping, they are nocturnal they sleep in the day. Feed at night, he is making his nest for when its frosty. Which is when they hibernate.

Chris

[katieoxo60 in reply to fastball]

probably is just sleeping Chris

[PenelopeS]

I agree with Fastball, it's a bit too soon for them to hibernate. Either it has made a daytime nest or more worryingly it may be about to give birth to some late in the year babies. If the latter they would be unlikely to survive as they would not get big enough to survive hibernation.

I have been a supporter of The British Hedgehog Preservation Society since it's inception. Check their website, there is a lot of useful information & they have lists of Hedgehog carers in your area, should you find you have got autumn hoglets.

Hedgehog houses are brilliant & really help them to get through the winter. Sadly, if as a society we are not more careful it will not be too many years before they are extinct & that would be a tragedy.

[katieoxo60 in reply to PenelopeS]

Thank you Penelopes for the information, I will have a look later

[piggi]

We used to see a lot of hedgehogs , especially in the autumn. Sadly not any more. They are adorable. Xpiggix

[twopars12]

Yes nice to see the hedgehogs in the garden but its the lions that really cheese me off for even though I'm sitting on my decking on a warm sunny day they will persist in coming over the bottom fence, killing and dragging away the deer. Nature I suppose.

[Dragonmum]

Useful link? gloucestershirewildlifetrus... I'd add coffee grounds and contents of dried out teabags to the crushed eggshell mix - they really hate that and a copper band round pots, or stand pots on little bits of old copper pipe. Hedgehogs are so threatened I'd rather lose the odd plant than use slug-bait - plants can always be replaced. Always check before lighting bonfires too, Mrs Tig may have decided it's a good place to sleep the Winter away.

[katieoxo60 in reply to Dragonmum]

Thanks for those tips x