Rank: New forum user 
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If any one could give some info on the below it would be appreciated. As part of a construction project there is a planning requirement to put 'hedgehog holes' in the solid fences around the gardens of new build houses. These are basically 13 x 13cm holes cut into solid fences to allow hedgehogs to pass through. However one of our fencers who we have contracted to put the holes in the fences has stated that they are now receiving calls to close up hedgehog holes as they have been incidents of children putting hands through these holes and getting bitten by dogs on the other side. Has anyone heard of this happening and is there any guidance or advice on de risking this if this is a significant risk?
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Rank: Super forum user 
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Beware dealing with rumour as fact. Whilst one dog bite is one too many that will not sway environmental considerations regarding planning consent. Build in accordance with the agreed plans - presumably these are being placed along the border line rather than half way down a run. More likely a child and dog will come in to contact through a central hole. Leave it to any resident to break planning consent sealing the holes which will likely disappear as the panels gat replaced. Meanwhile if you are still curious ask the planning officer - bound to be some sad compensation face stories in the local press if the stories of dog bites are true "council planning rule saw my child bitten by the neighbours dog"
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 4 users thanked Roundtuit for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Beware dealing with rumour as fact. Whilst one dog bite is one too many that will not sway environmental considerations regarding planning consent. Build in accordance with the agreed plans - presumably these are being placed along the border line rather than half way down a run. More likely a child and dog will come in to contact through a central hole. Leave it to any resident to break planning consent sealing the holes which will likely disappear as the panels gat replaced. Meanwhile if you are still curious ask the planning officer - bound to be some sad compensation face stories in the local press if the stories of dog bites are true "council planning rule saw my child bitten by the neighbours dog"
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4 users thanked Roundtuit for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user
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The risk might well exist, but I cannot see it being significant risk; rather it looks like one of those “phoney” risks that under employed H&S advisers identify. The risk is of course slight unless the hedge is next to a dog kennel or a zoo with a pack of African Hunting dogs. The aim of a hedge is mainly to prevent undesirable people wandering about on your lawn and this being England ( I assume) a good privet hedge is part of our national identity and as such a “good thing”. It also provide shelter for birds and other wildlife which is why little gates for hedgehogs and the like are also a “good thing”. The legal responsibility for preventing children being bitten by dogs rests not with the owner of the house or the builder of the property but principally with the owner of the dog. Owners of dogs particularly those breeds breed to fight should understand that they both criminally liability and in civil law as well. So, there is, surprise, surprise no guidance or regulation on this; it probably started in some corner of the media on a slow news day- we have to keep the click bait going.
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2 users thanked A Kurdziel for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user
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Hi Lee I'm with Roundtuit and AK on this. I doubt that there is a significant risk. But you could provide what would be the equivalent of a tunnel guard on a machine. Just make the tunnel too long for a child's arm to pass through and let the guard-dog snap off their fingers! Link your garden with a hedgehog highway (hedgehogstreet.org)
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Rank: New forum user
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Thanks all for your comments.
I personnaly had never heard of it hapening but it was fired my way to look into a bit further and this is about as far as I am going to go! I dont think the risk is signficant to warrant any further action other than to put a note into the homeowners manual to tell them not to let their kids stick their hands through the holes!
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Rank: Super forum user
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Hi Lee Not online any more but RoSPA still has its "HASS" database, though from the back end of the last Century before hedgehog highways became particularly fashionable. Might find some data on how many accidents a year were occurring when kids and dogs interacted at the border between homes. Accident statistics - RoSPA
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Rank: Super forum user 
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This thread was originally about holes in wooden fences then diverted to hedges which are so different to fences.
Hedges have natural pathways for small animals and can be grown to any height unlike fences that have height limits.
The funnel is a great idea methinks. I'll be getting a new fence soon and will have hedgehog access inserted.
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2 users thanked firesafety101 for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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I have a stone wall between two parts of a garden, and when the wooden gate in it needed to be replaced, I asked for it to be set high so that Hodge could easily trundle under. Hodge does indeed trundle under :-)
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1 user thanked Kate for this useful post.
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Rank: Super forum user 
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I have hedgess and frequently have hedgehogs wandering through. Must admit I suspect any liability relating to dogs biting kids hands will lie with the dog owner. Most new builds with fencing will just be laid to grass so I guess adding a "tunnel" could cause a trip hazard on your side of the fence.
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