Win one of 10 hedgehog homes

Enter this competition to win one of ten hedgehog homes. Photograph: Woodland Trust

Autumn is an atmospheric season for humans – but it’s a challenging time for hedgehogs. Lawn mowing, bonfires and the threat from foxes and domestic pets can be hazardous for them and other small mammals.

If you don’t know much about hedgehogs beyond their tell-tale spikes, you might be surprised to learn that they are great for gardens: they eat slugs and snails and other plant-damaging pests. Nocturnal animals, they are common in cities as well as rural locations and will often nest in long grass or piles of leaves.

Because they are such a seldom-seen animal, hedgehogs can be injured when you’re doing the gardening: always check long grass before strimming and bonfires before lighting. Slug pellets can also harm them – if you encourage hedgehogs to use your garden, they will eat the slugs so you won’t need to buy pellets.

The biggest single threat to UK hedgehogs is loss of habitat. As they start to hibernate, between November and early April, they need a safe haven. If you want to encourage hedgehogs to your garden, installing a purpose-built shelter is a good option as there is less chance that you will accidentally harm or disturb your little lodger.

The new, wicker Igloo House from the Woodland Trust offers hedgehogs a retreat and is much safer than a compost heap or pile of leaves. To keep its inhabitants safe, the igloo has a small entrance tunnel, designed to deter predators such as badgers and dogs, and its spacious design can accommodate family groups, such as a mother and her hoglets.

The round painted steel frame has a waterproofed roof with a brushwood finish and is decorated with withy bands so it blends into the environment. Made from natural materials, the appearance varies due to seasonal availability and environmental factors.

The Igloo is designed to provide shelter for wildlife year-round, as well as providing somewhere for hedgehogs to hibernate for years to come.

If you’d like to encourage local hedgehogs to seek sanctuary in your garden, you could win one of 10 Woodland Trust hedgehog igloos. Simply enter your details below for a chance to win.

Terms and conditions

1. The Woodland Trust prize draw (the “Prize Draw”) is open to residents of the UK aged 18 and over.
2. The Prize Draw is not open to employees or agencies of Guardian News & Media Limited (“GNM”), their group companies or family members or anyone else connected to the Prize Draw.
3. Entry into the Prize Draw is acceptance of these Terms and Conditions.
4. To enter the Prize Draw you must enter your details as above. If you have any questions about how to enter or in connection with the Prize Draw, please email competitions.glabs@theguardian.com with “Woodland Trust prize draw” in the subject line.
5. Only one entry per person. Entries on behalf of another person will not be accepted and joint submissions are not allowed. You are responsible for the cost (if any) of sending your Prize Draw entry to us.
6. No responsibility is taken for entries that are lost, delayed, misdirected or incomplete or cannot be delivered or entered for any technical or other reason. Proof of delivery of the entry is not proof of receipt.
7. The Prize Draw closes at 23:59 on 24 December 2015. Entries received after that date and time will not be considered.
8. The winners will be chosen from a random draw of entries.
9. 10 winners will receive a Woodland Trust Igloo House. GNM accepts no responsibility for any costs associated with the prize and not specifically included in the prize.
10. The winner/winners will be notified by phone or email on or before 4 January 2016 and given details of how to claim their prize. If a winner does not respond to GNM within 28 days of being notified by GNM, then the winner’s prize will be forfeited and GNM shall be entitled to select another winner (and that winner will have to respond to the phone call or email from GNM within 28 days or else they will also forfeit their prize).
11. Details of the winner/winners can be obtained by sending a stamped addressed envelope to the following address: Guardian Creative, Guardian News & Media Limited, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU.
12. The prize is non-exchangeable, non-transferable, and is not redeemable for cash or other prizes.
13. GNM retains the right to substitute the prize with another prize of similar value in the event the original prize offered is not available.
14. The winner/winners may be required for promotional activity.
15. No purchase necessary.
16. Nothing in these terms and conditions shall exclude the liability of GNM for death, personal injury, fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation as a result of its negligence.
17. GNM accepts no responsibility for any damage, loss, liabilities, injury or disappointment incurred or suffered by you as a result of entering the Prize Draw or accepting the prize. GNM further disclaims liability for any injury or damage to your or any other person’s computer relating to or resulting from participation in or downloading any materials in connection with the Prize Draw.
18. GNM reserves the right at any time and from time to time to modify or discontinue, temporarily or permanently, this Prize Draw with or without prior notice due to reasons outside its control (including, without limitation, in the case of anticipated, suspected or actual fraud). The decision of GNM in all matters under its control is final and binding and no correspondence will be entered into.
19. GNM shall not be liable for any failure to comply with its obligations where the failure is caused by something outside its reasonable control. Such circumstances shall include, but not be limited to, weather conditions, fire, flood, hurricane, strike, industrial dispute, war, hostilities, political unrest, riots, civil commotion, inevitable accidents, supervening legislation or any other circumstances amounting to force majeure.
20. The Prize Draw will be governed by English law.
21. Promoter: Guardian News & Media Limited, Kings Place, 90 York Way, London, N1 9GU.