Does the Gardena SILENO free detect obstacles and hedgehogs on the lawn?

Not on its own, going by Gardena's published sensor list. The GARDENA smart SILENO free ships with satellite RTK for positioning and a lift sensor, which stops the blades if the mower is picked up. Gardena sells an Anti-collision Radar as a separate accessory, and it's that add-on which gives the mower a way of sensing objects in its path.

Without the radar, the mower knows where the lawn is but not what's lying on it. Toys, balls, garden hoses and dog bowls need clearing before a mowing session, and so does anything left out overnight. Gardena's UK site doesn't have a product page for the radar, so check with your retailer that it's available and compatible before relying on it.

For hedgehogs, the most reliable protection is the schedule rather than any sensor. The British Hedgehog Preservation Society notes that hedgehogs are active from dusk through the night, so set mowing windows during daylight hours and avoid early mornings and evenings. The smart App lets you choose those windows and pause the mower remotely. Check long grass under hedges yourself before the first cut of the season, as that's where hedgehogs often shelter.

Our hedgehog guide covers schedules in more detail, and if hands-free obstacle avoidance matters to you, the camera-equipped GARDENA smart SILENO sense is the Gardena to look at.