Why coastal gardens matter for hedgehogs and other wildlife

Coastal gardens are often windswept, salty and sandy, but they are also rich in opportunity. Hedgehogs, once a common sight in British gardens, are now struggling. In coastal areas, they face extra challenges: exposed sites, thin soils, and fewer safe places to hibernate. The good news is that small, thoughtful changes can turn a seaside plot into a haven for these prickly visitors and a host of other creatures, from bees and butterflies to slow worms and bats.

Create a hedgehog highway and safe passage

Hedgehogs can travel up to two miles a night in search of food and mates, but fences and walls stop them in their tracks. A simple 13cm (5in) square gap at the base of a fence or wall creates a hedgehog highway. If you have gravel boards, cut a notch. If you have a solid wall, lift a brick or two, or create a small tunnel. Talk to neighbours about linking gardens. In coastal areas, where gardens may be separated by windbreaks, these gaps also allow air to flow and reduce wind damage.

• Make sure gaps are at ground level, not raised.
• Line tunnels with smooth material so hedgehogs do not scrape their spines.
• Avoid netting, which can entangle them.

Leave a wild corner with log piles and native planting

Nature thrives in messy places. Set aside a corner of the garden, even a metre square, and let it go wild. This is where you can build a log pile, a leaf heap, or a compost mound. Hedgehogs love to nest in dry leaves and long grass. In coastal gardens, a wild corner also provides shelter from salt-laden winds. Plant native species that tolerate wind and salt: sea thrift, sea campion, viper's bugloss, wild carrot, yarrow, and bird's-foot trefoil. These are not only beautiful but also provide nectar and seeds for insects and birds.

• Stack logs loosely, with gaps, in a sunny spot.
• Add a hedgehog house or a simple wooden box filled with dry leaves.
• Leave seed heads over winter for birds.

Water, shelter and food through the seasons

Hedgehogs need to drink, especially in dry coastal summers. A shallow bowl of fresh water, placed at ground level, is a lifeline. Add a few stones or a small ramp so that if a hedgehog falls in, it can climb out. Never use steep-sided containers. If you have a pond, make sure one side has a gentle slope or a piece of wood as an escape route. Change the water every few days to prevent algae and disease. In coastal gardens, water can be scarce, so a bird bath or a small pebble fountain also helps.

• Use a plant saucer or a shallow ceramic bowl.
• Place it near a wild corner, away from cat patrol routes.
• Check it daily in hot weather.

Shelter matters too. A hedgehog house, a pile of stones, or a dense shrub like gorse or heather will offer protection from wind and rain. In winter, leave fallen leaves in place; they are insulation for hibernating creatures.

Plant native British species for coastal conditions

Native plants are adapted to local conditions and support far more wildlife than exotic varieties. For coastal gardens, choose salt-tolerant natives. Sea holly, sea kale, and rock samphire are striking and robust. For hedges, blackthorn, hawthorn, and elder provide berries and nesting sites. Honeysuckle and wild rose offer scent and food for moths. Heather and gorse add colour and shelter for invertebrates. If you have space, a small native tree like rowan or crab apple will bring birds and pollinators. Avoid double-flowered varieties, which often have little nectar.

• Group plants in wind-resistant clumps.
• Use a mulch of seaweed or compost to improve sandy soil.
• Leave perennials standing over winter; insects overwinter in hollow stems.

Garden gently and reap the rewards

Many garden deaths are preventable. Slug pellets are lethal to hedgehogs, and even organic ones can harm them. Use barriers, beer traps, or hand-picking instead. Before strimming or mowing, walk the area and look for hedgehogs, frogs, and slow worms. Check long grass before cutting. Avoid using weedkillers and insecticides. If you must use a chemical, apply it sparingly and never near water or wild corners. Put away netting and sports nets when not in use. Hedgehogs are nocturnal, so if you see one out in the day, it may be in trouble; contact a local wildlife rescue.

• Check compost heaps before turning them.
• Keep dogs away from wild corners at night.
• Provide a ramp from any sunken light well or basement window.

You do not need a large garden or a lot of money. A log pile, a shallow bowl of water, a gap in the fence, and a few native plants can transform a coastal plot. Start with one change this weekend, then add another. Over time, your garden will become a patch in a wider network of wildlife corridors, helping hedgehogs, bees, butterflies, and birds to thrive along the coast. And you will have the pleasure of watching them do it.