Dome size and design variations

Not every Hedgehog Dome has to look the same. Just as hedgehogs adapt to different environments, the Dome can be adjusted to fit your garden, local climate, and available space. By exploring a few design variations, you can choose the version that works best for your situation.

Single chamber vs. multiple nesting chambers

Single chamber domes are simple, compact, and easy to build. They provide a safe shelter for resting or hibernation, especially useful in small gardens.

Multiple chamber domes include two or more separate, unconnected rooms. Each room is fully enclosed with its own entrance tunnel, because hedgehogs are solitary animals and do not share living space. This design offers:

• More options for individual hedgehogs in the same area, without forcing contact.
• Better flexibility for breeding females, who need undisturbed space to raise their young.
• Long-term stability, since if one chamber is abandoned or disturbed, another remains available.

Multiple chambers therefore do not mean group living, but rather separate safe units within one larger structure.

Public vs. private ground

Private gardens: Domes can be smaller, tucked into quiet corners, and tailored to available space.

Public spaces (parks, schoolyards, community gardens): Larger domes with several separate chambers are more suitable, since they can serve multiple hedgehogs over time. In these cases, planting and signage can also engage the local community.

Variation in native plants per climate

The planted top of the Dome is more than decoration, it’s part of the design. Native plants help regulate temperature, provide food for insects, and camouflage the Dome.

• Cooler climates: mosses, low shrubs, wildflowers, and hardy grasses for year-round cover.
• Temperate climates: wildflowers, low shrubs, and meadow plants to attract pollinators.
• Hot or dry climates: drought-resistant plants such as sedums or native herbs, which help keep the Dome cool while conserving water.

By matching the planting to your local ecosystem, you ensure the Dome blends naturally into its environment and stays healthy with little care.