BECOME A LOCAL WILD HEDGEHOG RELEASE SITE!

*PLEASE NOTE: We are not currently seeking help with this type of volunteering.

Are you enthusiastic about hedgehog welfare?

Do you have a passion and an interest in helping wildlife?

Do you live locally?

Why not register your interest in becoming a hedgehog release site!

Other ways to help support us

Once rescue hedgehogs are medically stable, no longer taking medication and at a decent weight for the time of year, they can be released back in to the wild. This is the best part of our job seeing the hedgehogs we have cared for be released back into their natural environment.

The majority of hedgehogs received are released back into the location they came from with most being from Harpenden or the surrounding areas. We have a local selection of gardens, river lined woodlands, and large parks for release sites. Release sites include areas such as Kimpton, Codicote, Batford, Southdown, Harpenden, Wheathampstead, St Albans, Knebworth, Hitchin, Sandridge, Slip End, Caddington, and South East side of Luton.

We try to release hedgehogs back in to, or very close to the area from which they came from, but this is not always possible. All release sites have a known hedgehog population within the area which has generally been confirmed by hedgehogs being received from these locations and also confirmed sightings.

We aim to release all the hedgehogs we have rehabilitated and cared for back in to the local area from which they came from. Hedgehogs will be familiar with nesting and feeding opportunities within their home range. We receive both urban and countryside hedgehogs at the sanctuary each of which are specialists of their preferred habitats. Hedgehogs build cognitive maps of their home range which can be one kilometre radius or more but generally stick to about 2.5 acres a night. We do not release hedgehogs long distances from their home town or country woodlands, there are exceptions such as hedgehogs which have disabilities.

We use three main types of release sites:

Garden Release Sites (Urban)
Countryside / Woodland / River lined shrubed Release Sites (Rural)
Enclosed Gardens

We currently have release sites in most of the local villages, towns, and countryside areas. All release sites are vetted to ensure that the location is suitable under our duty of care for the release of hedgehogs. Please take a look at the different sites we would be interested in.

See other ways you can help us

1) GARDEN RELEASE SITES (URBAN HEDGEHOGS)

These types of release sites are used for healthy hedgehogs that are at a decent weight for the time of year when released. Generally known as Urban Hedgehog Release Sites.

Your garden may be suitable for this type of release site if the following is true:

You don’t use slug pellets or pesticides or would be prepared to stop using them in the future.
You have at least one 13cm hole in any fencing along your boundary.
Your garden links with multiple other gardens, allotments, or shrub areas.
Your garden does not back on to a road or is close to a very busy road.
Your garden is not close to a motorway.
You would be prepared to feed the hedgehog for at least a few weeks after release.
You don't have any open holes such as drains or ditches which the hedgehog could fall in to and not escape.
If you have a dog that would not want to hurt the hedgehog and not aggressive by nature.
If you have a garden pond or pool you are prepared to make a ramp or a way for the hedgehog to escape, should it fall in.
You have or would look to obtain a suitable hedgehog home or box for the hedgehog to initially be release in to.

Hedgehog Rescue Information

2) COUNTRYSIDE / WOODLAND / RIVER LINED SHRUB RELEASE SITES (RURAL HEDGEHOGS)

These types of release sites are used for healthy hedgehogs that are at a decent weight for the time of year when released. These are generally known as Rural Hedgehog Release Sites.

Your Countryside / Woodland / River lined, shrubbed area may be suitable for this type of release site if the following is true:

The entire site is not enclosed, i.e. a large walled or fenced area.
It has hedgerows, woods, or river lined areas very close by.
It does not have very busy roads close by.
There are no close manmade or natural areas which the hedgehog could fall into and not escape such as steep river banks or cattle grates without any sloped exits.
Close to farmers which have crop intensive fields.

Hedgehog Rescue Information

3) ENCLOSED GARDENS

These types of gardens are used to release hedgehogs with disabilities such as missing legs, injuries which prevent the hedgehog from protecting itself, or where they are forced to eat certain types of foods due to mouth injuries. These gardens need to be secure. Your garden should have generally been designed like this, rather than you changing it to be secure.

Your enclosed garden may be suitable for this type of release site if the following is true:

You don’t use slug pellets or pesticides or would be prepared to stop using them in the future.
You don't have any holes along your boundary which the hedgehog could pass through.
You have a board along the base of any gates that access your garden or a spring-loaded gate which closes automatically behind you.
Your garden is messy with minimal amounts of slabs or manmade material such as concrete or pebbles on the ground.
Parts of your garden have either lots of piles of leaves, stacks of wood, a compost heap, shrubs, fruit trees or a pond.
You would be prepared to constantly feed the hedgehog.
You don't have any open holes such as drains or ditches which the hedgehog could fall into and not escape.
If you have a dog that would not want to hurt the hedgehog and not aggressive by nature.
If you have a garden pond or pool, you are prepared to make a ramp or a way for the hedgehog to escape should it fall in.
You have or would look to obtain a suitable hedgehog home and ensure the hedgehog has enough material to make nests with, such as fallen leaves, newspaper, dried hay, straw, or light insulating natural materials.