skip to main content
The Royal Parks web site uses cookies. By browsing you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Read our cookie policy
  • Home
  • Media Centre
  • Careers
  • Shop
  • Contact us
  • searchsearch
The Royal Parks menu
  • Help Nature Thrive
    • Nature and Wildlife
    • Climate and Conservation
    • How to get involved
    • Sign up to The Royal Parks’ Nature News
  • Parks
    • Hyde Park
    • Kensington Gardens
    • Richmond Park
    • Bushy Park
    • St James's Park
    • The Green Park
    • The Regent's Park and Primrose Hill
    • Greenwich Park
    • Brompton Cemetery
    • Victoria Tower Gardens
  • What's on
    • Upcoming events
    • Latest news
    • Blog
    • The Royal Parks Podcast
    • Self guided walks
    • Learn Online
    • The Great Exhibition Virtual Tour
    • Sign up to our Newsletter
    • Event Feedback
  • Managing the parks
    • Park management plans
    • Park regulations, legislation and policies
    • Park strategies
    • Holding events in the Royal Parks
    • Cycling in the Royal Parks
    • Conservation and improvement projects
    • Consultations
    • Licences and permits
    • Policing in the Royal Parks
    • Visitor satisfaction research
  • Support
    • Make a donation
    • Philanthropy and major giving
    • Leave a gift in your Will 
    • Run, cycle or swim for the parks
    • Hire The LookOut, Hyde Park
    • Become a partner
    • Corporate volunteering
    • Dedications in your local park
  • Learn
    • Learn in our Central London parks
    • Learn in The Regent's Park
    • Learn in Greenwich Park
    • Learn in Richmond Park
    • Learn in Bushy Park
    • Learn in Brompton Cemetery
    • Learn Online
    • Urban Tree Festival School Challenge
    • Green Futures project
  • Get involved
    • Careers
    • The Royal Parks Horticultural Apprenticeship Scheme
    • Volunteer with us
    • Mission Invertebrate
    • The Royal Parks in World War I
    • Play in the Park
    • Photo competition winners
    • Green Flag Awards
  • About us
    • Who we are
    • What we do
    • Procurement
    • Partner organisations
    • Publications
    • Friends of The Royal Parks
    • Contact us
    • Modern Slavery Statement
  • Donate
searchSearch
  • The Royal Parks
  • Help Nature Thrive
    arrow_drop_down
    • Nature and Wildlife
    • Climate and Conservation
    • How to get involved
    • Sign up to The Royal Parks’ Nature News
  • Parks
    arrow_drop_down
    • Hyde Park
    • Kensington Gardens
    • Richmond Park
    • Bushy Park
    • St James's Park
    • The Green Park
    • The Regent's Park and Primrose Hill
    • Greenwich Park
    • Brompton Cemetery
    • Victoria Tower Gardens
  • What's on
    arrow_drop_down
    • Upcoming events
    • Latest news
    • Blog
    • The Royal Parks Podcast
    • Self guided walks
    • Learn Online
    • The Great Exhibition Virtual Tour
    • Sign up to our Newsletter
    • Event Feedback
  • Managing the parks
    arrow_drop_down
    • Park management plans
    • Park regulations, legislation and policies
    • Park strategies
    • Holding events in the Royal Parks
    • Cycling in the Royal Parks
    • Conservation and improvement projects
    • Consultations
    • Licences and permits
    • Policing in the Royal Parks
    • Visitor satisfaction research
  • Support
    arrow_drop_down
    • Make a donation
    • Philanthropy and major giving
    • Leave a gift in your Will 
    • Run, cycle or swim for the parks
    • Hire The LookOut, Hyde Park
    • Become a partner
    • Corporate volunteering
    • Dedications in your local park
  • Learn
    arrow_drop_down
    • Learn in our Central London parks
    • Learn in The Regent's Park
    • Learn in Greenwich Park
    • Learn in Richmond Park
    • Learn in Bushy Park
    • Learn in Brompton Cemetery
    • Learn Online
    • Urban Tree Festival School Challenge
    • Green Futures project
  • Get involved
    arrow_drop_down
    • Careers
    • The Royal Parks Horticultural Apprenticeship Scheme
    • Volunteer with us
    • Mission Invertebrate
    • The Royal Parks in World War I
    • Play in the Park
    • Photo competition winners
    • Green Flag Awards
  • About us
    arrow_drop_down
    • Who we are
    • What we do
    • Procurement
    • Partner organisations
    • Publications
    • Friends of The Royal Parks
    • Contact us
    • Modern Slavery Statement
  •  
  • Donate
    • Home
    • Media Centre
    • Careers
    • Shop
    • Contact us
  • What's on
  • 
  • Blog
  • 

Helping hedgehogs

Published Wednesday 2 February 2022

As dusk falls in The Regent’s Park, one of Britain’s most loved mammals wakes up. These elusive creatures are nocturnal, around 20cm long, hibernate during winter, and survive on a diet of juicy worms, beetles, and other invertebrates. They’re also known to roll up into a spiky ball at the first sign of danger.

The iconic hedgehog has been disappearing from our towns and cities at a worrying rate, with numbers declining by a third over the last 20 years. Habitat loss, pesticides, and hazardous roads have made life hard for these city dwellers. They’ve all but vanished from the capital’s central Royal Parks, except in The Regent’s Park, where a small and vulnerable population of around 30-40 animals still remain.

What we've been doing

The Royal Parks have been monitoring this important population since 2014. Every May and September the Hedgehog Team, along with top wildlife scientists and over 150 dedicated volunteers, venture out after dark to scour the park using torches and thermal imaging cameras.

These surveys have been vital in helping to understand how the population is faring, which areas of the park they are using and the specific habitats they prefer. The findings have also informed a number of ‘hedgehog friendly’ improvements across the park, such as allowing the grassland beside hedges to grow longer, providing foraging and nesting sites and cutting hedgehog sized holes (aka ‘Hedgehog Highways’) in metal railings to allow the hogs to move more freely around the park.

What you can do

We need support to protect this vulnerable population and there are lots of ways you can help.

  • When you’re out and about in the park be sure to dispose of your litter responsibly - polystyrene cups, plastic beer can loops, elastic bands and other litter can be harmful to hedgehogs
  • Take care when driving or cycling around the park at dusk (our hedgehogs have been known to cross roads!)
  • Stop your dog rummaging in the undergrowth as they may disrupt sleeping hedgehogs

You can also do your bit at home. With little effort, your garden can become a real refuge for our prickly pals. Cut a hole in your fence or dig a channel beneath garden boundaries to help hedgehogs pass freely through your garden. Ask your neighbour to do the same. A leaf pile, log pile or compost heap can make the perfect nesting site, and be sure to lay off the poisonous slug pellets – hedgehogs will eat slugs and snails when starving. Even if you’re not treated to a visit by these amazing animals, other wildlife will thank you for your efforts.

For more information on this project, and what you can do to help, visit: www.royalparks.org.uk/hedgehog

Visit Hedgehog Street for tips on how to help hedgehogs in your garden and beyond



Share:
  • The Regent's Park
Hedgehog (credit: Lars Karlsson)
Hedgehog volunteer with a hedgehog
Hedgehog access holes in railings in Regent's Park
Hedgehog (credit: Lars Karlsson)
Hedgehog volunteer with a hedgehog
Hedgehog access holes in railings in Regent's Park

Help us improve our website by providing your feedback.

Website user survey

close

search
Explore the Royal Parks
  • Hyde Park
  • Kensington Gardens
  • Richmond Park
  • Bushy Park
  • St James's Park
  • The Green Park
  • The Regent's Park and Primrose Hill
  • Greenwich Park
  • Greenwich Park Revealed - Park Restoration Project
  • Brompton Cemetery
  • Victoria Tower Gardens
  • Grosvenor Square Garden
Support the parks
  • Make a donation
  • Philanthropy and major giving
  • Leave a gift in your Will 
  • Run, cycle or swim for the parks
  • Hire The LookOut, Hyde Park
  • Become a partner
  • Corporate volunteering
  • Dedications in your local park
Media Centre
  • Press Releases
  • Royal Parks News Permit
  • Filming and photography
  • Royal Parks Image Library
  • News Archive
  • Trooping the Colour media accreditation
About us
  • Who we are
  • What we do
  • Procurement
  • Partner organisations
  • Publications
  • Friends of The Royal Parks
  • Contact us
  • Modern Slavery Statement
Connect with us
Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Instagram
Watch our videos on YouTube
The Royal Parks

The Royal Parks is a registered charity (No. 1172042) and a company limited by guarantee registered in England & Wales no. 10016100 (VAT No. 261 4640 19)

Copyright © The Royal Parks 2016-2022 | Head Office: The Old Police House, Hyde Park, London. W2 2UHTerms & Conditions | Privacy Policy

close

Subscribe to our eNewsletter today

Be the first to hear our latest news and read about upcoming events, learning and volunteering opportunities, fundraising and park improvement projects when you sign up to our mailing list.

Aerial view of Regents