Embrace biodiversity

What can we do to look out for this inconspicuous little creature, which can live for up to ten years but whose average life expectancy is only three? Often run over on the road and facing food scarcity in winter (especially due to pesticides), the hedgehog is likely to venture into our towns and gardens. Make a shelter for them. Place 2 logs on the ground parallel to each other, then 3 or 4 more over the top, and do you best to protect this little hut against the wind, rain and passers-by. Then it’s time to do some interior decorating, or let the animal do it themselves by leaving some dead leaves nearby. Don't make it too small: a female can bear up to 6 hoglets (baby hedgehogs). Your guest, whose environment of choice is the forest, will appreciate being able to move around a large area. Leave a strip of unmown grass to let this carnivore forage for its food – they’re fond of snails, worms and insects. 

These animals also need a place to raise their young, and will choose somewhere quite early. Put a nesting box out for them before January. Choose an area with little shade, high up (at least 2.50 m), in a quiet place, protected from the wind and from predators. Be sure to read up on the size and shape you choose, as this will determine how attractive it is to different species. If in doubt, you can find out more on the website of the French League for the Protection of Birds (LPO). Remember to clean the shelter with boiling water every autumn, then leave it to dry out thoroughly to prevent disease and fungi setting in. Are you ready to make a nest box?