Hedgehog house install in Exeter
Professional hedgehog house install services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60
Typical Duration
30-45 mins
Location
Exeter, Devon
Hedgehog house installed in a suitable spot with proper weatherproofing and drainage. Gives local hedgehogs a safe place to hibernate, nest, or shelter.
Help Hedgehogs Make a Comeback
Hedgehog numbers have dropped 50% since 2000. They're struggling with habitat loss, busy roads, and gardens without access routes. A properly positioned hedgehog house gives them a safe refuge - especially important for hibernation and raising hoglets.
💡 Pro tip: A hedgehog house is only part of the solution. Hedgehogs need 13cm gaps under fences to roam between gardens, access to water, and pesticide-free gardens with log piles and long grass areas.
Why Location Matters So Much
Stick a hedgehog house anywhere and it'll likely stay empty. Positioning is everything.
| ✅ Done Right | ❌ Done Wrong |
|---|---|
| Quiet spot away from paths and activity | Next to the patio or busy area |
| Entrance facing away from wind/rain | Entrance facing prevailing westerlies |
| Raised slightly or with drainage channels | Sitting in a natural water-pooling spot |
| Covered with leaves/soil for insulation | Left bare on the lawn (too exposed) |
What You Get
🔧 The Full Service
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Position | Best spot identified based on your garden layout |
| Install | House placed, levelled, and secured if needed |
| Weatherproof | Covered with leaves, soil, or logs for insulation |
📦 You're Left With
- Hedgehog house correctly positioned
- Weatherproofed and camouflaged naturally
- Advice on making your garden hedgehog-friendly
- Peace of mind you're helping local wildlife
Pricing
| Service | Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Hedgehog house installation | 30-45 mins | £60 |
Based on £60 minimum callout. If combined with other garden jobs, you'll save on the overall cost.
Perfect For Your Project If...
✅ Wildlife-friendly garden - want to support local hedgehogs
✅ Safe hibernation spot - give hedgehogs winter shelter
✅ Seen hedgehogs visiting - encourage them to stay
✅ Not sure where to put it - need advice on positioning
Why Choose Us for Hedgehog house install in Exeter?
Positioned in a quiet, undisturbed spot
Protected from rain and flooding
Entrance facing away from prevailing wind
Covered with natural materials for insulation
What to Expect
Step 1: Survey the Garden
I'll walk your garden looking for quiet, sheltered spots away from disturbance. Need to avoid areas that flood, get direct wind/rain, or are too close to activity.
Step 2: Position the House
The house gets placed in the chosen spot, slightly raised if needed for drainage, with the entrance facing away from prevailing wind. If it's very light, I'll weight or peg it to prevent movement.
Step 3: Weatherproof & Camouflage
I'll cover it with natural materials - leaves, small logs, or soil - for insulation and to make it blend in. This also protects the wood and makes hedgehogs feel secure.
🔧 DIY Tips
Want to install your hedgehog house yourself? Here's how:
🔧 What you'll need
- The hedgehog house
- Spade (if levelling ground)
- Natural covering materials (leaves, small logs, soil)
- Bricks or pavers (optional, for raising it slightly)
- Dry leaves or straw (for inside bedding)
🏡 Finding the right spot
- Choose quiet areas - under hedges, behind sheds, along fence lines
- Avoid anywhere that puddles when it rains
- Face entrance away from prevailing wind (usually southwest in UK)
- Keep away from busy paths, patios, and play areas
- Ideally facing north or northeast (cooler = better for hibernation)
📦 Setting it up
- Level the ground first - use bricks to raise it slightly if needed
- Entrance should be clear and accessible (no obstacles)
- Put dry leaves or straw inside as starter bedding
- Cover with leaves, soil, or logs for insulation
- Make sure rain can't pool on the roof
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Positioning too close to human activity (hedgehogs avoid disturbance)
- Entrance facing into wind and rain (gets wet inside)
- In a dip where water collects (floods in heavy rain)
- Moving or checking it too often (hedgehogs abandon disturbed sites)
💡 Pro trick: Create a feeding station nearby (not right next to the house) with cat food and water. This encourages hedgehogs into your garden and increases the chance they'll use the house. Never give them bread or milk - cat/dog food is perfect.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🦔 Will you see hedgehogs using it? Probably not! Hedgehogs are nocturnal and very shy. You might notice droppings nearby (small, dark, cylindrical) or disturbed leaves at the entrance. That's a good sign. Don't be tempted to peek inside - disturbance can cause them to abandon it.
Making your garden hedgehog-friendly: The house is just one part. Check your fences for 13cm gaps (hedgehogs need large territories), avoid slug pellets (poisonous to hedgehogs), leave wild areas with log piles, and put out water. I'm happy to advise when I'm there.
Hedgehogs hibernate November-March: If you install during these months, don't disturb it until April. There might already be a sleeping hedgehog in there and waking them repeatedly can be fatal.
Seen hedgehogs in your garden already? That's brilliant - you're clearly doing something right. Install the house and there's a good chance it'll get used for nesting (spring/summer) or hibernation (winter). The key is leaving it completely undisturbed once it's in place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where's the best place to put a hedgehog house?
Quiet spots away from busy areas - under a hedge, behind a shed, or tucked against a fence work well. It needs to be sheltered from wind and rain but not somewhere that floods. I'll advise when I see your garden.
Do I need to buy the hedgehog house first?
Either way works. If you've already got one, I'll install it properly. If not, simple wooden ones are about £25-40 from garden centres or online. I can advise on what to look for - solid construction, good drainage, suitable entrance size.
Will hedgehogs actually use it?
If it's positioned well, kept quiet, and your garden is hedgehog-friendly, there's a good chance. They need access routes (13cm gaps in fences), water, and food sources. I'll give you tips on making your garden more appealing to them.
When should I install it?
Any time of year works, but autumn is ideal - gives hedgehogs time to find it before hibernation. If you install in spring/summer, it might be used for nesting instead. Either way, it's beneficial.
Do I need to do anything after it's installed?
Just leave it alone! Check once a year (in summer, not winter when they might be hibernating) to clear out old bedding if it's not being used. Never disturb it during winter - hibernating hedgehogs can die if woken repeatedly.
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