Slugs, snails.... And a hedgehog

Please help! My garden is fenced in with a hedge on one side. I always assumed the only animals who could get in would climb or fly .. But this evening a hedgehog ran in through the hedge and fence (no idea how!!). Now I'm worried about how to manage slugs n snails - I use chemical killer as they are a huuuuuge prob for me but I don't want to kill the poor hedgehog - I love having as nature friendly garden as poss.... But I love my fruit, veg, hostas and lupins so hate snails etc - help! What do I do? I should mention I didn't put Down the slug killer as I had planned cos was worried!

 

I would perhaps put a small number of small pellets down spaced very thinly when it is a wet evening. Go out in the morning and collect any carcasses before the hedgehog gets chance to eat them. Otherwise you could try organic methods such as nematodes. Hopefully the hedgehog will gobble a few up for you xx

 

Nematodes!!!!
We have the same problem - we are building up our frog population, and we also have a cutsie hedggie too - and mutant slugs - thousands of them!!!!! Rubber gloves, a head torch and a bucket are good too, for late night foraging expeditions - and a financial insentive for the kiddies - 5p per slug & snail......
Its really weird - every year we have the battle of the slimey things - and every year I get more and more squeamish and I just can't kill them - I gather them up and put them in the "Green" bag for garden waste and let the council dispose of them!!

 

Thats pure genius. When my son is a bit older I'll put him to work in the same way.

EDIT: I just thought, your kids might develop sound business sense. They might start paying other kids 2p per slug and snail to chuck them in your garden, so they can sell them to you at 5p and make 3p markup on each one. If you start noticing the numbers increasing exponentially, then you know what's going on

 

Don't you just hate slugs and snails.
You spend time and money , grow your plants , and they come and eat them.

 

Don't put any slug pellets down at all,put beer in containers for the slugs, it wont matter then if the hedgepig eats them.

 

I use liquid stuff to get rid of slugs and snails. Cant remember what its called now but you dilute it and then water each area.

Safe to pets (as we have 2 dogs) because as soon as its drained into the soil there is nothing there for the dogs to touch.

Would certainly recommend it as it kills them under the ground also

Will try to find whats its called ......

 

Scotts Slug Clear Liquid

 

I just been out with a vinyl glove and a doggy poo bag and collected a load then tied the bag and put it in the bin. If you've got particular plants the slugs like try putting this special fabric around them thats impregnated with copper. It's fab stuff works well and can be used again and again. It comes in round discs or in rolls can't remember where I got mine from, somewhere online, but it works really well