Gardeners are being warned about the simple mistake scaring hedgehogs away this season

You might've noticed fewer hedgehogs scuttling around these days, and while that's largely due to population declines, there is a common mistake you might be making that's accidentally scaring them away from your garden.

If you've been trying to attract hedgehogs to your garden but haven't had any luck, several things may be keeping them away. Surprisingly, your exterior lighting choices may present a problem for hedgehogs visiting your garden, whether seeking shelter or just passing through.

So, if you want to look after wildlife this autumn, one lighting expert has shared the ways you can still enjoy an illuminated garden without upsetting or deterring any prickly visitors.

The common garden lighting mistakes deterring hedgehogs

You may be aware that hedgehog populations are declining at a pretty shocking rate, so it's important to help them through the colder months in any way we can. What you might not know is how your garden lighting can negatively affect them.

“Lighting is not the first thing you think about when encouraging hedgehogs into your garden, but it can make a real difference as to whether the wildlife feels comfortable using the space," explains Jon Saeed, co-founder of LightingLegends.com.

Here's what to consider when picking your outdoor lighting this autumn and winter.

1. Light positioning

While we love layered outdoor lighting, there are several types of lights we'd recommend avoiding if you want to keep hedgehogs happy.

"Rather than using floodlights or uplighters, which illuminate the whole garden, consider spike or path lights which direct light onto the ground. Hedgehogs are most active and vulnerable to disturbance when large areas are lit up at once," explains Jon.

"If there's a hedgehog hole in the fence, don't place a light right beside it as it will stop then using the route and coming into the garden," he adds.

2. Type of lighting

If you're looking for lighting ideas for your garden decking, keep these conditions in mind when making your decision. That way, your decking will look fantastic and no wildlife will be scared off.

"Warm white bulbs with a K rating of 2700K are less disruptive to nocturnal wildlife than cool white or blue-toned LEDs. These are harsher and can affect insect activity, a hedgehog's main food source," says Jon.

"These are best avoided around nesting areas. A sudden bright light can startle a hedgehog and disrupt its route. Aim security lighting away from hedges and compost heaps," he continues.

3. Not leaving dark spots

Should you need to add certain lighting types to your garden, you can keep some spots dark for wildlife. Similarly, you can choose to leave some of your garden to grow wild with the mosaic gardening trend.

"These are where hedgehogs will walk, nest and forage, so leave them as a dark corridor where they can move undisturbed. Instead, keep lights focused on patios, decking and paths," suggests Jon.

"Leave a part of the garden, ideally a quiet, planted corner, completely unlit overnight for hedgehogs and other nocturnal wildlife," he recommends.

If you want to do something extra for the critters that visit your garden, then leaving weeds to grow that wildlife likes to eat is a huge help to them during winter, when food sources start to run low.

Should you want to see how many hedgehogs are in your local area, The BIG Hedgehog Map website can help with recorded sightings.