We’ve been making a really simple polystyrene Hedgehog House to help these delightful creatures hibernate over winter.
Regular readers will know that we recently moved out of the city and into the countryside because I really wanted the children to be able to connect with nature more and I certainly haven’t been disappointed.
Every-night as soon as the sun sets we’ve been visited by a hedgehog and more come throughout the night too. They’re very clever little fellows and have discovered our cats’ feeding bowl so scurry along to see if there are any tasty leftovers.
One rainy night I moved the cat food bowl inside and guess who came into the house to gobble it up? We just managed to catch the hedgehog cat food thief on film!
Our little hedgehog visitors have inspired some lovely hedgehog model making and of course lots of research into their habitat and habits. The children have loved finding out about hedgehog hibernation and wanted to be able to help the hedgehogs have a cosy and safe winter by making a hedgehog house (hibernacula). They’ve called it “The Hibernation Station” which I think is just lovely! Hedgehog numbers are declining so it would be great if you could have a go too.
You can buy ready made hedgehog homes but they are quite pricey. We made our polystyrene hedgehog house from a polystyrene box that my dad got a frozen meat delivery in as it has excellent insulating properties.
Supplies To Make a Polystyrene Hedgehog House:
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- Polystyrene box with lid UK/ US (We up-cycled one used for transporting frozen meats.)
- Optional- extra lid to make a tunnel.
- Duct tape UK / US
- Drill
- Sharp Knife
- Straw
How To Make A Hedgehog House:
- Use a sharp kitchen knife to cut a square entrance hole out of one side.
- Drill some ventilation holes into the sides.
- If you are making an entrance tunnel too, cut the spare lid into four. We found that scoring the polystyrene with a knife allowed us to then simply snap it.
- Measure your lid quarters against your entrance hole and trim to size. Use the duct tape to secure three of them together to make an arch.
- Because the polystyrene lid was so thick we decided to taper the bottom of our tunnel too, just to make it a little easier for a hedgehog to go in. We simply cut a bit off with a knife.
- Tape the bottom of your tunnel into place and secure the whole tunnel onto the entrance to your hedgehog house.
- Fill the hedgehog house with some straw and place it somewhere safe and quiet in your garden.
- Make a little sign so your night time visitor knows it’s welcome. 😉
Have you pinned this yet?
It is best to weigh your hedgehog house down with a brick/stone or two to stop it blowing away in strong winds and to position it with the entrance facing South to protect it from cold winds.
We are going to cover our hedgehog house with some branches too and will be scattering a pile of fallen dried leaves around it too as hedgehogs would naturally use these to hibernate in during the winter.
If you don’t have a polystyrene box the British Hedgehog Preservation Society has an excellent leaflet showing you how to make a hedgehog house out of cardboard, wood or plastic instead and the RSPB have a super free Giving Nature A Home guide.
If you don’t fancy making a Hedgehog House yourself there are lots available to buy too:
Here’s some other fun Hedgehog items your children might enjoy.
Helen @ Witty Hoots says
This is so cute! Thank you for linking up with Frugal Family Linky last week. Hope to see you sharing posts on it again soon.
Kara says
I adore hedgehogs and the really sad thing is I haven’t seen one for years. We used to have a whole family living in our garden at our old house
Polly says
what a great idea! I love hedgehogs
Helen @ Witty Hoots says
This is super cute – looks like an igloo! I hope your hoggy friend decides to sleep in there for the winter!
VaiChin @RamblingThroughParenthood says
This is such a fantastic idea. And super cute too. I will check to see what J makes of it all.
Globalmouse says
Aw what a great idea.. My 7 year old has been bugging me to make or buy a hedgehog home so maybe we should give it a try.
Sylvia @ Happiness is homemade says
What a fab idea! I used to make bird houses as a kid but never thought of making hedgehog house! x
Bek says
This looks like a fantastic little house for a hedgehog. My parents have a hedgehog in their garden at the moment, my children would love to make one of these for it 🙂
Sonya Cisco says
Oh bless the cheeky little mite- love the video! And what a fab idea to provide such a lovely spot for hibernating!
Lydia Graham says
Lovely idea, we’ve over wintered baby hedgehogs a few times. We have a juvenile in at the moment. A little tip if you find your house isn’t being used is to partially cover it. Hedgehogs like to be hidden, if you have a bush push the house underneath there. If not you can pile leaves and short grass around the house to make it look more like a natural habitat.
You Baby Me Mummy says
This is adorable! Such a great idea x
Emma @ P is for Preschooler says
What a great idea – I love that it helps them through the winter! I wish we had hedgehogs – they certainly are cuties!
nessjibberjabberuk says
I’ll never forget one night after we had moved in I heard a noise in a garden and sent the husband down to investigate only for him to find two hedgehogs getting rather intimate!
Emma "My Little 3 and Me" Smith says
Lol, I’ve heard they can be really noisy Ness!
TwinsplusTwo says
What a brilliant idea! Love that you have a little visitor to try it out!
Cass@frugalfamily says
Aaaaw how cute is that. I want to make one now x x
Fritha Strickland says
aww we did this when I was little with a hedgehog we had rescued! x
Foz says
Oh what a lovely idea! The hedgehogs will be pleased with that home!
Hannah Staveley says
This is so cute just love the little home.x
Sam Thurley says
What a super idea, we have a family of Hedgehogs in our garden and myself and our neighbours have been wondering what to do to help them this winter…………………..Problem solved…………..Thanks so much. xx
Emma "My Little 3 and Me" Smith says
They definitely need more people like you and your neighbour!
Stephs Two Girls says
Oh, I love the video, so cute! Well done with the house, it looks like a good one!