A shift in consumer behaviour over the past few years now means many gardeners are increasingly searching for ways to rewild their outdoor spaces and make them beneficial for nature. As part of Hedgehog Awareness Week, taking place from 5-11 May, Gardman, part of Westland Horticulture, is urging garden centres to ensure they have a varied range of products in store that inspire consumers to provide nature with a home. 

Gardman offer a wide range of products that support biodiversity in gardens, and its hedgehog collection offers shoppers the opportunity to create a sanctuary for them in their garden, from safe shelters to specially developed food that gives them all the vitamins and nutrients they need. 

In addition to its range of products, Gardman will also be raising awareness of how consumers can care for hedgehogs and driving them in store to where the brand’s captivating POS inspires shoppers to create a retreat for wildlife in their garden.  

Below is a collection of hedgehog-friendly tips from Gardman that retailers are urged to share with their customers ahead of the national awareness week: 

• Open the ‘door’ and invite them in! Modern gardens are often surrounded by high fences but creating a 13cm x 13cm (5” x 5”) gap at the bottom of a fence allows for easy passage between neighbouring gardens, known as ‘hedgehog highways’. Keep the area clear of netting and plant growth so visitors don’t catch their spines as they travel through.
• Offer them a safe and comfortable home. If you have access to logs and dry leaves you can create a welcoming hedgehog haven, but if you don’t have a plentiful supply, then a Gardman Hedgehog House will provide the perfect accommodation. Constructed from a sturdy rust-resistant steel frame, and covered with a natural camouflage finish, it blends in nicely with the surroundings. 
• Water is a must for hedgehogs so ensure there are plenty of clean, shallow bowls of water available around the garden. Top them up regularly, particularly during hot weather. Adding stones and slate to the water creates landing spots for birds, butterflies, and bees too, so they can also pause for a drink.
• Keeping your guests happy relies on them having a good supply of quality food. Many consumers think milk is a good source of food for hedgehogs, but in reality, it gives them an upset stomach. Gardman Hedgehog Bites have been created with the essential vitamins and minerals hedgehogs need. These high-energy, tasty bites supplement the natural food they will find in gardens. The food can be placed on the ground or in a Gardman Ground Feeding Tray. 
• Make gardens safe for visiting hedgehogs. Ponds provide a wonderful wildlife habitat but must always have an escape route – a ramp or series of semi-submerged ledges will enable an easy exit. 

Following these simple tips will make gardens a much more welcoming place for these enchanting creatures. 

In common with all Westland products, the Gardman range can be ordered 24/7 via Westland Live, and frequent top-ups are easy as part of a Westland weekly delivery. Scan here to login in or sign up.