How to build a hedgehog house using household items

ANIMAL lovers are being encouraged to build hedgehog houses in their gardens in the run up to autumn. The experts at GardenBuildingsDirect.co.uk have provided their best advice on how to successfully create an inviting home for the small animals. By providing safe and comfortable places for hedgehogs to live in your garden, you are far more likely to have sightings of the mysterious yet adorable creatures.

Unfortunately, the number of hedgehogs in the UK has completely plummeted over recent years. Because of this, the small animals are becoming increasingly dependent on homeowners to make safe spaces for them in their gardens.

Factors affecting hedgehog population include:- loss of foraging and nesting habitat through urban development, rural hedgerow removal which depletes the carrying capacity of the landscape and badger numbers are increasing meaning there is more competition for food.

A spokesperson for GardenBuildingsDirect.co.uk said:- "We believe it is important for Brits to understand why the number of hedgehogs are decreasing and what we can do in our own gardens to help 'em!' These adorable creatures deserve to be looked after and given comfortable places to hide away and stay warm during autumn and winter months. A huge bonus to helping out the hedgehogs is that you are likely to catch sightings of them regularly in your garden, especially in the autumn and winter months when we start getting darker evenings and darker mornings. These are definitely the best times to get hedgehog spotting with the family."

These are GardenBuildingsDirect's top tips for building a simple hedgehog house out of items you may already have in your home:-

Find your resource... When making a house, try to recycle items such as a large sturdy cardboard box or large plastic storage container that is not being used. A plastic storage box is preferable for a longer term option.

Create access... On each side of your box, cut air vents about 15cm x 5cm. Also create an entrance which is about 15cm in diameter. If using a plastic box, use a small hand saw for this step and sand down all rough edges.

Location, location, location... Place the hedgehog house in a quiet part of your garden, against a fence or wall if possible. Make sure the entrance isn't facing North or North East, this way the hedgehogs can avoid the cold winter winds and it increases the chances of the house becoming a winter hibernation home for some lucky hedgehog family!

Also, in making a bonfire, please remember to check any wood and leaves you might be wanting to burn, as they like to hide in them and also hibernate in them. The same if moving any large amounts of wood and leaves, or any garden items they might find interesting to hid under.  Many of our prickly friends are killed as people do gardening at this time of year.

Do you have any hedgehog in your garden? Please do let us know, by emailing us to:-  News24@SouthportReporter.Com.
 

Get your tickets to see the Cartoon Workshop and Talk by Former Marvel Editor & Guests

2 amazing events will be held on Saturday, 11 September 2021, that the , on Post Office Ave, Merseyside, Southport, Merseyside.  These events will be a:- 'must attend' for any comic fan.  The 1st of the event, presented by:- VAMPHire.Com is an all ages Workshop hosted Tim Quinn, who is famous for his work with:- Marvel Comics, Doctor Who Magazine, Beano, Dandy, Sparky, Topper, etc.  He will be joined by Holly Bushnell., who is a masterly illustrator of countless children's picture books and murals.  The workshop will run from 2pm to 4pm, and is suitable for ages 7 upwards. It will look at story and picture creation, along with local book illustration. Tickets are will are on sale for this Workshop, but buy as places are limited, or you could miss out!  Tickets can be obtained now from the Bijou Cinema, directly, or via:- TicketSource.

The other amazing event, presented by VAMPHire.Com at the same venue and on the same day, is an interactive talk, entitled:- "Celebrating 137 Years Of Comic Books with Tim Quinn." This evening event will start at 7.30pm, and will feature a fantastic panel will be made up from:-

► DAVE TAYLOR - New York Times best-selling artist, Dave has worked for numerous comics publishers on numerous characters including:- Iron Man, Zorro, Doctor Who, Superman, most notably Batman, and his recent work on British Legend Judge Dredd. 
 
► HOLLY BUSHNELL - Masterly illustrator of countless children's picture books and murals. Artistic influences include:- Axel Scheffler, Judith Kerr and Quentin Blake. Through her work, Holly is passionate about inspiring children and helping them to see the importance of character, nature and the environment.
 
► ALAN COWSILL - Alan co-created Stormwatcher for Acme/Eclipse before working on Panini UK's Marvel line and writing the 1st UK-originated Spider-Man strips for more than a decade. He created the bestselling Jackie Chan Adventures, the award-winning Classic Marvel Figurine Collection, and the DC Super Hero Collection for Eaglemoss Publishing. His books include:- Warzone: Dark Eden, DC Comics: A Year by Year Visual Chronicle, Marvel Avengers Character Encyclopedia, and Spider-Man Year by Year: A Visual Chronicle.
 
► TIM QUINN - The Quinn half of Quinn and Howett from:- Doctor Who Magazine, Marvel Comics, Beano, Dandy, Sparky, Topper, etc. Who has recently launching a brand new comic book on behalf of the children's charity Liverpool Heartbeat.

We will reveal the special guest next week... So do not forget to check on here to find out who it will be!  Tickets can be obtained now from the Bijou Cinema, directly, or via:- TicketSource.

The proceeds from the live studio audience ticket sales will be split between Liverpool Heartbeat and the Southport Bijou Cinema.

The workshop is being sponsored by Mind Games, Southport. the home of puzzles in the Southport area. Find them on Hill Street, opposite the exit to Sainsbury's Car Park.