Hedgehogs need a safe place to shelter during the colder months, and there are a few simple things you can do to encourage them to hibernate in your garden this winter15:39, 07 Sep 2026Updated 15:39, 07 Sep 2026As temperatures begin to drop, gardens can become an important refuge for wildlife trying to escape the cold. If you want to give one of Britain's favourite animals a helping hand this autumn, there is a simple addition that could encourage them to make your garden their winter home.‌Hedgehogs are rarely spotted during the day, instead venturing out after dark in search of food. They can roam through several gardens during their nightly adventures, feasting on snails, slugs, beetles, caterpillars, and worms along the way.‌But when the temperature drops, their routine changes dramatically as they settle down to hibernate, only emerging once conditions become warmer.‌What the RSPB recommendsIf you'd like to give a hedgehog somewhere safe to shelter, the RSPB recommends creating a dedicated hedgehog house - and you don't need to spend a fortune buying one. Instead, you can make your own from a few pieces of wood, before filling the chamber with a layer of dead, dry leaves.Once the box is built, the roof should be screwed rather than nailed into place so it can be lifted off for cleaning down the line. A narrow drainpipe can also be fitted into a hole at the back to allow for ventilation.Content cannot be displayed without consent‌Where you position your hedgehog house is just as crucial as what goes inside it. The RSPB advises choosing a shady, undisturbed spot, with the entrance pointing away from the prevailing wind.A quiet corner of the garden tucked beneath dense vegetation or behind a shed is the perfect spot. You'll then want to disguise the outside of the house by piling up woody garden cuttings and leaves around it. You can even pack soil around it, provided you ensure the entrance and ventilation pipe remain unobstructed.How to look after your hedgehog houseWhile you may be tempted to peek inside your hedgehog house on a regular basis, the RSPB advises that you won't spot any activity between October and March or April, as this is the period when hedgehogs are in hibernation. The charity suggests giving the house a thorough clean every year or two.‌The best time to do this is in October, before hedgehogs settle down to hibernate and after most litters have been weaned. Alternatively, you can give it a clean in April once hibernation has come to an end, but before hedgehogs begin producing hoglets.If you're keen to find out whether your hedgehog house is being used, there's a nifty little trick worth trying. Place something lightweight, yet not easily shifted by the wind, such as a scrunched-up piece of newspaper, directly in front of the entrance.If a hedgehog is inside, it should nudge the paper as it comes and goes - meaning you'll know you've got a tiny visitor without causing it any disturbance.‌How to attract hedgehogs to your gardenThere are several other steps you can take to make your garden more welcoming to hedgehogs. The RSPB advises providing supplementary food and water, particularly during dry spells when natural insect prey can become harder to come by.However, you should never offer hedgehogs milk or bread, as they are unable to digest either and it can cause serious stomach upsets. Instead, specially formulated hedgehog food, complete cat biscuits or meaty cat or dog food are all suitable alternatives.It's also worth bearing in mind that hedgehogs need to roam between gardens. If your garden is enclosed by a fence or wall, the RSPB recommends making a small gap on either side to allow hedgehogs to pass freely between neighbouring plots.Article continues belowThese tiny openings can help establish a network of connected gardens for hedgehogs to explore, giving them access to greater supplies of food, shelter and water as they go about their nightly wanderings.