Build the GroundFeeders Hedgehog House: Measured Wooden Plan

To build our wooden hedgehog house, cut the panels from one 1,220 × 1,220 × 18 mm sheet of untreated exterior-grade plywood, assemble a 500 × 400 mm body with an internal divider, and fit a removable, weatherproof roof. The entrance leads around the divider into a separate sleeping area. Our free six-page plan gives you the labelled cut list, measured layout and assembly drawings to take into the workshop.

↓ Download the free GroundFeeders hedgehog house plans (PDF)

What makes this design different?

The 130 × 130 mm entrance opens at floor level. A 210 mm long divider blocks a straight route into the larger sleeping area, so the animal moves along a compact passage and around the divider’s end. The roof lifts off for access only when the house is known to be empty. Two runners raise the floor slightly from the ground.

Hedgehog Street recommends an internal tunnel or dividing wall where a box has no external tunnel, and untreated wood for hedgehog homes. A house is an optional nest site alongside natural cover such as log piles and quiet, leafy corners; a good design cannot promise that a hedgehog will move in. For a quicker alternative, see our two-option hedgehog house guide.

Cut list and layout

From the 18 mm sheet, cut one 560 × 460 mm roof, one 500 × 400 mm floor, a 500 × 250 mm front and back, two 364 × 250 mm sides, and a 210 × 250 mm divider. Add two 364 × 30 mm floor runners and two 270 × 20 mm stops for the underside of the roof. The front entrance is 130 × 130 mm, starting 50 mm from the left edge and reaching the bottom edge.

The diagram shows a possible layout on one sheet, with 5 mm cutting gaps. Measure each finished part rather than scaling from the picture, and retain the full-width offcut for test cuts or repairs.

How do the pieces go together?

1. Cut and label the panels. Saw the front doorway, then smooth its edges. Drill pilot holes before fixing near plywood edges.

2. Set the two sides between the front and back panels on the floor, with outer faces flush. Secure the corners with suitable exterior screws and fix the floor from underneath. Check that no sharp points project into the house.

3. Fix the divider against the inside of the front panel, leaving 162 mm clear to the inside left wall. The route continues 154 mm behind the divider’s end into the sleeping area. Add the two runners beneath the floor.

4. Fit a small vent high in the back wall behind the sleeping area, with its outside end angled down against rain. Centre the roof for roughly 30 mm overhang on each side. Fix the two stops beneath it, clear of the divider, and add a waterproof roof covering and secure external catches. The roof must stay in place in wind but remain removable later.

The plan view makes the entrance route easier to check before fastening the divider:

Use the printable six-page guide for the full labelled layout, fastener and roof details before starting the build.

Where should the finished house go?

Choose a quiet, shaded, dry and sheltered spot with cover nearby. Face the doorway away from north and north-east winter winds, keep the vent and entrance clear, and leave dry leaves nearby for nesting material. Put any food or water away from the sleeping house. The British Hedgehog Preservation Society recommends a solid house with a base and an entrance tunnel or internal baffle, and warns against creosote or non-water-based treatments. Untreated wood is the simplest choice; if you finish the outside, follow the product’s safety advice and allow it to cure completely.

Do not nail down the roof as you may want to clean the box in the future

Once installed, do not lift the lid to check for a resident. Clean only when you know the house is unoccupied; an apparently quiet entrance does not prove that. The BHPS suggests late March or early April after winter use as a possible cleaning period, subject to occupancy. Our guide explains the gentle hot-water cleaning method. If you are preparing the garden for winter, read when UK hedgehogs hibernate and how to protect their nests.

Our design is a printable construction plan, not a claim that this exact box has been tested with resident hedgehogs. Watch the site from a distance and let any visitor choose whether to use it.