HedgeHog.About 18 months ago I found a smallish Hedgehog in The tiny garden of A house we rent out

Leave your hedgehog to live a natural life in the wild in your garden - it will not thank you for trying to look after it. Oh and hedgehogs do not eat biscuits! Worms and other nice invertebrates :-)

I agree with not interfering with them they will go back to their nests if left alone. There was a news item in the last month re the only time to interfere is if you see a baby sitting still in daylight.
Every year we have them visit to feed and drink every night. I cannot agree about the food though MG. The hedgehog sites say meat pet food and dry food such as cat biscuits and you can now buy dried hedgehog food, also the Hedgehog preservation society say try some 'unsweetened museli or weetabix and a handful of raisins' as long as water is available too. Mostly its milk they must not be given as this can kill them.

Hedgehogs do tend to 'do the rounds' and visit several gardens within an area. So maybe your hedgehog has been doing that, looking for food and/or a mate, and chose to settle somewhere else. Or it could be a different hedgehog.

I would think encouraging them to visit if and when they choose to rather than trying to keep one in your garden is perhaps the best thing for them. Have a look at this website for lots of information about them, and tips on how to make your garden as friendly as possible for them to visit (e.g. making gaps under your fences, being aware of any dangers, what food is suitable to put out if you want to do that):
http://www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk/FAQS/faqhome.htm

:)

Thank you all for your helpful replies.
Our garden is wired under all of the hedges because of risk to our tiny Yorkshire terrier,which is why I think that the hedgehog is the same one I introduced into the garden so long ago.
Now I feel guilty about the lonely hedgehog !How can I acquire more ?
I really do not want to allow it to escape .I think it is safer with us than wandering outside.
I looked on the web and discovered that in the US they are sold as pets !( African pygmy)Watching the videos of them being handled has made me want to have lots of them.
I shall not be afraid to handle it the next time I see it,it would be great to be able to breed them.

Please don't handle the hedgehog Justvera and if it really is trapped in your garden I would suggest you set it free. Keeping wild animals as pets is not fair to the animal.

I've seen pictures of the African pygmy hedgehogs too Justvera, and they are very sweet. But they have been bred specifically as domesticated pets, to be handled and live in captivity. The hedgehog in your garden is not one of these, it's a wild animal, so I agree with Moon_grower - even if you feel it would be 'safer' with you, it's not fair to try keeping it as a pet, and I would urge you to let it go if it is trapped in your garden. I'm sure you have the best of intentions but an escape-proof garden is not a suitable home for one healthy hedgehog let alone a family of them so I don't think looking to acquire more and breed them is really a good idea.

I understand all that you are saying.I would have thought that if they are becoming scarce,my idea would have helped the situation.
Never-the-less,it looks as if we shall have to start cutting into the wire netting.
My garden is in the middle of the City !,I hate the thought of it getting run over !

I know you were coming from a place of care and concern but am glad you are letting the hedgehog go.

If you love hedgehogs you have a local hedgehog hospital who might value your help as a volunteer? Try Hedgehog Halfway House, Worcester WR 1

Thank you Steragram,I will be in touch with them very soon.I had not been aware of them otherwise I would have contacted them before now.
( Thank you to all that have helped me )

That sounds a good idea of Steragram's. Good luck with it Justvera :)