Hedgehogs... The Gardeners Friend

Hedgehog Rescue regularly release "fit again" hedgehogs into areas in and around Leicester and some of these may find their way into your gardens or allotments. Most will have been lovingly hand reared or have come through a lengthy period of nursing and convalescence and they deserve the best possible chance of survival. Please help to make Leicestershire "hedgehog friendly" by taking the following precautions.

SLUG PELLETS containing METALDEHYDE are usually dyed blue. They are lethal to hedgehogs and other wildlife that eat the poisoned slugs. Place out of reach i.e. under slates or inside short lengths of piping. Dead slugs must be removed daily.

SLUG KILLERS containing ALUMINIUM SULPHATE kill slugs and snails by drying up the skin. These are not a bait but kill upon contact. They are placed around the area to be protected and can be diluted in water and sprayed into the ground to kill the eggs. These are safe to use where our wildlife is concerned.


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Here are some more natural ways to control these pests.

BRAN FLAKES scattered around Hostas and other equally devoured plants. The slugs will eat the bran flakes which swell up and kill them.

STALE BEER in plastic cups sunk into the ground. The smell attracts the slugs which fall into the cups and drown.

SAND, SOOT OR EGGSHELLS spread around the plants. The gritty surface will deter.

PLASTIC BOTTLES sawn off to make a cylinder which can be used to protect individual plants. In WHICH magazine tests, this was more effective than slug pellets.

WET SACKING OR 1/2 GRAPEFRUIT placed around plants will provide a moist refuge under which slugs may collect during the day.

NOCTURAL SORTIES armed with torch and tweezers.

If you do not wish to kill any captives, they could be released into the countryside.

HEDGEHOGS, FROGS & TOADS, nature's way of controlling slugs and snails which are part of the wildlife food chain. Make them welcome in your garden by leaving a wild corner and not spraying with chemicals.