Expert tips on how to help the hedgehogs in your garden

As a proud patron of the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, I'm thrilled to support its mission to protect these lovely creatures whose numbers continue to decline across the UK.

Known as the gardener's friend, hedgehogs are fantastic at keeping garden pest populations controlled. By creating a haven for them in your outdoor space, you're not only supporting native wildlife, but you're also giving your plants a helping hand.

So here are some simple tips to help protect them in your garden.

If you're lucky enough to see a hedgehog in your garden in the evening, let it forage freely without disturbance.
However, if it looks unwell, it may need urgent help. Some main signs to look out for are as follows: lethargy, especially if they're out during the day; flies around a hedgehog; wobbly on their feet; clear signs of injury or distress; a hedgehog trapped in a net, pond, drain or similar; hoglets out in the day without an adult, or squawking.

In these cases, carefully scoop it up using gardening gloves, place it in a high-sided cardboard box and keep it somewhere indoors, warm and quiet, offer a towel for it to hide beneath. Make sure there's enough room in the box for the hedgehog to move away from the hot water bottle if they want.

Offer fresh water and meat-based cat or dog food. Then contact the British Hedgehog Preservation Society on 01584 890 801 for specialist support. Do bear in mind that hedgehogs out and about at dawn or dusk are likely fine, just enjoying their twilight stroll.

Coming out of hibernation, hedgehogs are on the hunt for food.
Give them a boost by leaving out a shallow dish of fresh water and meaty cat or dog food but avoid any food in gravy as the salt content is too high for hogs.

Some garden centres even stock hedgehog-specific food.Plants that encourage insects, which hedgehogs like to snack on, are always a good choice.

Cherry trees can be great, and a patch of wildflowers featuring red campion and ox-eye daisies is perfect.

Wildlife-filled gardens are havens for hedgehogs. Create cosy corners with log piles, leaf mounds or hedgehog homes, which are easy to make or buy, to offer shelter and nesting spots. You can find out how to make a hedgehog house on my YouTube channel, .

Hedgehogs roam up to a mile each night, so help them by cutting hedgehog highways. These are 13cm holes at the base of fences to link your garden with your neighbours' gardens. Make sure you check with your neighbours first.

Ponds, garden tools, netting, garden chemicals and bonfires all pose risks.

Always check for wildlife before lighting, strimming or mowing and ensure water features have a gentle slope for escape. My garden is pesticide and insecticide-free, but if you use them or other garden chemicals like fertilisers, make sure they are safely stored away.

* For more information and advice, visit the British Hedgehog Preservation Society at

Tulips are a dazzling highlight of early May gardens, bursting into bloom in bold reds, soft pastels, and vivid yellows. Late-flowering varieties like Tulipa 'Queen of Night' and 'Angelique' are at their peak now, adding height and colour to beds, borders and containers.

To keep displays looking fresh, deadhead faded flowers but leave the leaves to die back naturally. This helps recharge the bulb for next year. Protect taller tulips from heavy rain or wind and enjoy a few indoors as elegant cut flowers.

Tulips prefer sunny, well-drained spots with fertile soil. In pots, use peat-free compost with added grit. For stronger, repeat flowering, plant bulbs around 20cm deep and avoid waterlogged soil.

Fun fact: Tulips grow on after they're cut, which can make them droop in vases. Trim the stems every few days to keep them upright and looking their best.

1. In early May, plant up a spring hanging basket with trailing petunias, fuchsias, ivy-leafed geraniums, and lobelia for a burst of colour. Add ivy or helichrysum for greenery.

Use peat-free compost, water well, and feed fortnightly. Position in a sunny, sheltered spot for long-lasting blooms through late spring.

Find out how to water your hanging baskets with ease at my YouTube channel .

2. Harvest salad leaves in early May by snipping young growth from cut-and-come-again varieties like lettuce, rocket, and mizuna. Pick regularly to encourage fresh growth. Harvest in the morning for crisp, flavourful leaves. Grow in pots or beds, and keep well-watered to prevent bolting inwarmer spring weather.

3. In early May, earth up first and second early potatoes by gently mounding soil around the shoots as they grow. This protects from late frosts and encourages tuber formation. Repeat as the stems lengthen. Keep soil moist, and check for slugs. Main crop potatoes will need earthing up later this month.

4. Again in early May, pinch out the top 5-10cm of broad bean plants once the lowest pods begin to form. This helps direct energy to pod growth and deters blackfly, which favour tender tips. The removed tops are edible too -steam or sauté them like spring greens.

5. Prune bay trees in early May to maintain shape and encourage bushy growth. Use clean secateurs/pruners to trim new shoots, shaping domes or lollipops as desired. Remove any dead or crossing branches. Avoid cutting into old wood, as bay can be slow to regrow from hard pruning.

Legend has it that the Queen of Sheba was so enchanted by pistachios, she declared them food fit only for royalty. In fact, she's said to have claimed her nation's entire pistachio harvest for herself and her court.

Guzmania gets its name from Anastasio Guzman, an 18th-century Spanish naturalist with a passion for plants. He explored South America's rich landscapes, studying its unique wildlife and flora. It's a fitting nod that this bold, tropical houseplant pays tribute to a man who loved the natural world.

The name pomegranate comes from Latin pomum granatum, meaning "grainy apple". With its ruby-red seeds packed inside a tough skin, it's easy to see why. This ancient fruit has long symbolised fertility and abundance, bringing colour and flavour to gardens and kitchens alike.

In the Second World War, blackberrying was a cherished activity, with families gathering wild fruit to make jams and preserves. It helped stretch rationed food supplies and brought communities together. Foraging also offered a welcome outdoors escape from the challenges of wartime Britain.

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