How To Make a Hedgehog House Out of a Plastic Box

Are you looking to make a hedgehog house out of a plastic box with the children this weekend?

One thing is for sure – we all use far too much plastic as it is anyway, so recycling is never a bad thing. And one great way of doing our eco bit is to make a hedgehog house out of a plastic box.

It’s…

• cheap
• simply
• quick
• loved by your local hedgehogs.

In this article, we’ll show you how you can easily make a hedgehog house out of a plastic box that you would have otherwise thrown away.

Why make a hedgehog house out of a plastic box?

Here are some GREAT reasons why you should do this project:

“It seems the population of hedgehogs is a direct result of nesting opportunities.

Fewer nesting habitats for them to nest in the more they get driven into more urban areas.”

– How Many Hedgehogs Are Left in the UK?

“Despite a ‘War on Plastic’ we recycle just 45% of plastics in the UK.

That means 55% of all our plastic waste ends up in landfills, or indeed, the ocean.”

– Recyling Facts

So there we have it.

By turning a spare plastic storage tub into a hedgehog house or feeding station, you’ll be doing your double duty of conservation.

1. making your environment more wildlife-friendly.
2. reducing our burden of plastic waste.

Are you convinced?

Want to know how to make a hedgehog house out of a plastic box?

I’m glad you asked.

Here are some great instructionals on how it’s done, with ease!

Make A Hedgehog House Out Of A Plastic Storage Tub & Scrap Timber

Estimated Time (Beginners) 3hrs (Supervised)

Plastic Storage Tub Hedgehog House – Wildlife Gadget Man & Friends

This is a very considerate effort from Wildlife Gadget Man & Friends. This hedgehog house is of a very ample size using a 320ltr storage box.

At this size, it’s more of a hedgehog house and feeding station.

Get The Instructions

I’d say the difficulty level with this project is medium – the Gadget man does kick things off with a pre-made timber tunnel, nailed together and ready to hand.

Because of this additional work i.e. measuring out the timber, marking up, sawing down, nailing together etc. We’d say you allocate a little extra time if you are new to working with wood.

Advantages:

• Secure tunnelled entrance
• Ventilation
• Drainage
• X-large size
• Inc. feeding station

Disadvantages:

• Needs timber wood too
• Tunnel adds difficulty
• Takes a little longer
• Takes up more garden space

Here’s what you need to make it…⚒️

• 1. plastic storage tub (approx. size 320lt)
• 2. short length of plastic pipe (approx. 25mm diameter)
• 3. black insulating tape
• 4. small amount of meadow hay and lots of logs
• 5. leaves and twigs
• 6. saw
• 7. hammer
• 8. screwdriver
• 9. Stanley knife
• 10. robust pair of scissors

Get The Instructions To Make Your Own

Make A Hedgehog Hideout from A 30lt Kitchen Recycling Box

Estimated Time (Beginners) 1hr (Supervised)

Kitchen Recycling Box Hedgehog Hideout – Plastic Box Shop

Simple, yet adequate – a good DIY hedgehog house from the Plastic Box Shop. This is a smaller hedgehog house at only 30ltr big – but enough for housing at least one hog at a time.

I like that this is much easier to tackle than the Wildlife Gadget Man’s effort. But perhaps it lacks the security of the tunnelled entrance.

Get The Instructions

For many, it may be easier to hold of a recycling kitchen tub, than a plastic container. So, it could be more practical to get this one together. Also, if you are short of scrap timber – then look no further.

Arguably, this is a safer project too – especially for younger children. No saw, or nails etc. Although, I’d always advise that any design and build project like this be performed under continual adult supervision.

Advantages:

• Quick
• Easy
• All plastic – no wood
• Fewer tools needed
• Toddler friendly

Disadvantages:

• Not as acommodating being smaller
• Less secure entrance

Here’s what you need to make it…⚒️

• 1. 30lt kitchen recycling box
• 2. hand drill with circle cut bit
• 3. short elbow bend piping
• 4. plant pot
• 5. scissors
• 6. black tape
• 7. hedgehog bedding

Get The Instructions

We hope this article helped you learn how to make a hedgehog house out of a plastic box. You may also want to see what pre-made hedgehog houses are available on Amazon. Here is our ‘best of 2021’ list of wooden and plastic hedgehog houses.

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