These prickly creatures are fast becoming an endangered species in 21st century Britain. But all is not lost and as Hedgehog Awareness Week approaches, Tiffany Francis has ways that you can help them flourish again.

AS spring settles in and we start to relax in balmy pub gardens, the humble hedgehog is gearing up for its busiest time of the year. Once they have matured at two years old, May is the month for hedgehogs to woo a prickly mate and produce a litter of hoglets, a process that begins with a fascinating ritual of snorting, circling and chasing off unfriendly rivals. The act of mating is made easier by the female flattening her spines, and by June or July she will give birth to a litter of four or five tiny hoglets, who will be ready to leave the nest within a month.
This story is from the May 2017 edition of Hampshire Life.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In


This story is from the May 2017 edition of Hampshire Life.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In

Southampton's first Michelin star?
Newly opened southeast Asian restaurant, Blue Jasmine, could have all the right ingredients to claim the coveted title

This GIRL CAN
Tracy Edwards MBE paved the way for women in sport with her boat Maiden. Now, 30 years on, she’s showing women around the world that they can do something amazing too

The good ship LIBERTY
A call out on Instagram saw this Overton artist being included in the iconic Liberty Book

For KING & country
Can someone be born into greatness? We share the story of one of Britain’s most underrated monarchs, Henry III

Doing it for THEMSELVES
Multi-tasking sisters Iman and Yasmine El Sheik have just launched their new haircare brand Divinely Made, set to transform curly locks across the country

The Bear Ladies
Julie Tatchel and Amanda Middleditch from Bear It In Mind in Hythe regularly have viewers in tears with their bear restorations on the BBC hit show, The Repair Shop

A walk in Wonderland
A New Forest walk in the footsteps of Alice Hargreaves, the inspiration behind Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland

Creature comfort
From growing up with Hampshire racehorses to caring for dogs and cats at home, Clare Balding’s love of animals has seen her through good times and bad

A rare find
Hampshire’s diverse habitats attract all of Britain’s six native species of reptiles

A friend in need
Margot has met a kindred spirit to share her renovation horror stories