Hedgehog protection campaign
Natural gardens attract insects and hedgehogs
Hedgehogs only feel at home where there is buzzing and humming. If there are fewer and fewer insects, the hedgehog, as a nocturnal insectivore, also has a significantly reduced food supply. Many hedgehogs go into hibernation malnourished.
With their lively diversity, near-natural gardens are also a feast for the eyes for us humans and are less work than many people think. This issue of the "Hedgehog Protection Campaign" organised by the town of Beckum in collaboration with the private hedgehog charity Igelhilfe Beckum is therefore dedicated to near-natural gardens and what garden owners can do to provide hedgehogs with a good home.
Perennials and early bloomers in the front garden
Front gardens made of crushed stone or gravel are only practical at first glance. Here, too, a layer of humus quickly forms on which wild herbs, algae or lichens colonise. The rain does not end up where it is needed. In addition, the stone surfaces heat up in the sun and bind less dust. Planted gardens, on the other hand, provide fresh air even in summer and offer insects all kinds of food. This also magically attracts hedgehogs. If you want a low-maintenance yet colourful flowering front garden, plant proven native perennials. Bulbous plants such as crocuses, snowdrops, daffodils or tulips planted in between provide a colourful splendour in spring. And even in winter, a perennial garden covered in hoar frost looks mystical and inviting.
Plenty of food and shelter in the near-natural garden
If you do without mineral fertilisers, peaty potting soil and chemicals in your garden, you will be thanked by butterflies, bumblebees and other insects, birds and even hedgehogs.
We humans also need green oases to recover from the stress of everyday life. And the more natural our surroundings are, the better.
Hedgehogs are happy when they can build their nests under piles of brushwood, leaves or in dead wood. Gardeners are well advised not to tidy up everything straight away, as insects like to overwinter in the dead stems. The more structure a garden has, the better it is for hedgehogs. Hedges, especially so-called Benjes hedges and trellises, are preferable to fences as privacy screens. This makes it easier for small animals such as hedgehogs to cross property boundaries. In addition, nasturtiums, sweet peas and bindweed grow quickly and reward humans and animals with their flowers. To attract as many different insects as possible, it is a good idea to provide a variety of flower shapes.
Nesting aids for birds, rainwater catchment basins, insect hotels and hedges round off a natural garden. Incidentally, hedgehogs are secret helpers. They go out at night in search of beetles, caterpillars and worms to satisfy their hunger and thus rid the garden of unwanted "blackheads".
Further information on natural gardens:
Nabu brochure "Gartenlust - For more nature in the garden ": https://www.nabu.de/imperia/md/content/nabude/verbraucher-tipps/nabu-aktiv-gartenlust.pdf
Page from Münsterland e. V.: https://www.muensterland.com/wirtschaft/leben/natur-und-umwelt/muensterland-blueht-auf/artenschutz/naturgarten/