The Butterfly Project
Protecting Nature’s Little Wanderers
Once a common sight in gardens and parks, hedgehogs are now struggling to survive due to habitat loss and urban barriers. At Growing Green, we’re committed to giving these beloved creatures a helping hand by creating safe spaces and connected corridors for them to thrive. These corridors link Hampstead Heath to Waterlow Park, creating a lifeline for our prickly neighbours.
Hedgehog Highways
Hedgehogs roam up to two kilometers a night in search of food and mates, but fences, walls, and paved gardens often block their way. That’s why we’re working with schools, residents, and local organisations to create hedgehog highways—small holes in fences and continuous green routes that connect fragmented habitats.
We offer a free hedgehog-hole cutting service to anyone living in the area.
What we’ve achieved
With the help of volunteers and community support, we’ve already:
Installed wildlife-friendly hedgerows and dead hedges.
Cut over 20 highways in fences between the Heath and Waterlow park
Educated schools and residents about hedgehog conservation.
Set up 2 hedgehog rescue boxes on Holly Lodge Estate
How you can help
Hedgehogs need three essentials to thrive: habitat, shelter, and food. Here’s how you can make your outdoor space a haven for these charming creatures—and a few things to avoid:
Create a highway: Cut a 13 x 13cm (5 x 5”) hole in your fence to allow hedgehogs to roam.
Build shelter: Dead hedges, log piles, and dense native hedges provide ideal homes.
Rewild your lawn: Let it grow into a meadow full of insects for hedgehogs to eat.
Add a hedgehog house: Choose a hibernation-friendly design—this hedgehog house is a great option.
Make ponds safe: Add a ramp or shallow entry so hedgehogs can climb out.
Avoid harmful practices: Skip slug pellets (poisoned slugs harm hedgehogs), and say no to bonfires and leaf blowers. Instead, create a cozy leaf pile for hedgehogs to find shelter.
Feeding hedgehogs: If you’re lucky enough to have hedgehog visitors, leave them water and meaty cat food—but never milk. Our prickly friends are lactose intolerant!
Check out our hedgehog footage! We’ve been setting up little cameras around the area and it’s been such a joy.
Our goal is to connect Hampstead Heath to Waterlow Park through a network of wildlife-friendly gardens and green spaces.
