Wales Community Gives Out 71 Free Hedgehog Houses

Sue Jurkojc of Cefn Mawr, Wales, just became a hedgehog hero without leaving her backyard.

She's one of over 71 residents across Wrexham County Borough who've received free hedgehog house kits as part of an urgent campaign to save Britain's beloved spiky mammals from disappearing forever. Hedgehogs are now classified as vulnerable to extinction, with numbers plummeting by up to 75 percent in some rural areas since 2000.

The crisis stems from habitat loss, fragmented green spaces, and vanishing nesting sites. These nocturnal wanderers travel significant distances each night searching for food and mates, but they need connected gardens and safe shelter to survive.

That's where everyday residents like Sue come in. "I'm so excited to receive my hedgehog house kit," she said. "It's lovely to be part of something that helps local wildlife."

The campaign is run through Cefn Community Council's Hedgehog Ambassador program, funded by the Local Places for Nature fund with support from Wrexham Council and the Welsh Government. Community Development Officer Andrew Ruscoe says every safe garden creates part of a survival network for the species.

The timing matters deeply. Mother hedgehogs typically have four to five babies, though only two or three usually survive to weaning. With proper shelter, those odds improve dramatically.

The Ripple Effect

What started as a local wildlife project has become a model for community-led conservation. Each hedgehog house doesn't just help one family of hedgehogs. It creates a link in a chain of safe spaces that can sustain entire populations across neighborhoods.

Councillor Derek Wright captured the spirit perfectly: "This is exactly what community leadership looks like. Practical action, local pride, and people coming together to protect nature for future generations."

The program is now expanding beyond individual residents to include families, schools, and community groups. Anyone in the borough can request a free kit by contacting the council, turning their garden into a hedgehog haven overnight.

Small actions in backyards are adding up to big hope for Britain's hedgehogs.