With winter around the corner, preparing your garden is probably high on your to-do list – but before you grab your rake and trimmer, it's important to be wary of hibernating hedgehogs who could be hiding outdoors.
Hedgehogs start to hibernate in late October to mid-November and tend to nestle down in places such as leaf piles, compost heaps, and under dense bushes – common spots where we often cut back or remove before the colder months creep in.
Whether done intentionally or recklessly, it is illegal to kill or injure a hedgehog under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and could result in an unlimited fine or up to six months’ imprisonment. To find out how to clear your garden without putting hedgehogs at risk, we consulted a gardening and biodiversity expert for his advice.
How to clear your garden without harming the hedgehogs
1. Tidy less
It might be tempting to blitz the garden, but Ciarán De Buitléar, founder of Gardeningwell, explains that a lot of wildlife – including hedgehogs – depend on untidiness to survive the winter.
He says, "In my own garden and in the Wildlife Garden projects I run, I always keep a 'no-go corner' for winter – a place where leaves, logs, twigs, and long grass stay exactly as they are. Hedgehogs love these spots. If you clear everything, you clear them out too."
2. Check each pile before moving it
Before moving piles around, make sure there aren't any hedgehogs curled up inside. They can often look like a clump of leaves, warns Ciarán.
3. Lift things slowly
If you need to lift up objects, do so slowly to give any hibernating hedgehogs a chance to move away safely. Swap your spade for a garden fork, as this allows you to gently tease apart the material without digging into anything you shouldn't.
4. Check before you trim
According to Ciarán, most hedgehog injuries come from strimmers or lawn trimmers, so always check the grass carefully before cutting it down.
5. Check your bonfires
Before lighting a bonfire, it’s crucial to ensure there are no hedgehogs or other wildlife hiding inside (as well as checking what materials you can burn).
Ciarán De Buitléar is the founder of Gardeningwell, a family-led wildlife-gardening and biodiversity project based in Stamullen, County Meath, Ireland. From a restored Victorian walled garden and a small suburban plot, he shows how ordinary gardens can become rich habitats for pollinators, hedgehogs and people. Ciarán works with schools, youth groups and community projects to help children grow food, build wildlife homes and understand climate action at garden scale.
Signs of hibernating hedgehogs
Unsure whether hedgehogs are hibernating in your garden? While it’s best to be cautious either way, here are some signs to look out for, according to Ciarán De Buitléar:
- A firm, almost woven outer layer of leaves
- A quiet little entrance hole
- A nest that looks like someone took the time to make it rather than nature dumping leaves there
He says, "A hibernating hedgehog does a surprisingly tidy job of hiding itself. The nests – hibernacula – are compact, dome-shaped and built from tightly packed leaves, moss, and grass. They’re nothing like the loose, scruffy leaf piles people imagine.
"If you think you’ve found a hedgehog’s nest, you leave it alone. No peeking, poking or rearranging. Even well-meaning disturbance can force a hedgehog to abandon a safe winter home."
Another way to find out for sure is by setting up a wildlife camera.
With motion detection and night vision, this wildlife cam will show you what the hedgehogs get up to in your garden.
When do hedgehogs hibernate?
According to Ciarán De Buitléar, hedgehogs typically start hibernating from late October to mid-November in the UK and Ireland – though this can vary depending on the weather and food availability.
He explains, "Hibernation lasts until March or early April, with the occasional mid-winter awakening if temperatures rise. They sometimes even switch nests. So if you spot a new dome-shaped leaf pile in January, it’s not unusual – hedgehogs are little renovation experts.
To conclude, you don’t need to stop clearing your garden altogether – you just need to be mindful of the common places where hedgehogs tend to hibernate and manage these areas with caution.
For more garden advice, read our expert guides on how to get rid of slugs and how to get rid of mushrooms in your lawn.
