Experts have issued a warning to anyone who spots hedgehogs in their garden this summer.
The Royal Horticultural Society, which is the leading UK gardening charity, have urged homeowners with gardens to keep their eyes peeled for the spiny mammal throughout the summer.
And the organisation has warned against a particular garden activity that may risk maiming, or even killing, a population already in decline.
Research shows that the hedgehog population has fallen from an estimated 36 million in the 1950s to fewer than one million today.
Hedgehogs are now considered as ‘near threatened’ on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s red list.
This means they are close to qualifying for a threatened category and are at risk of extinction if trends continue.
The decline is mainly due to human involvement like farming, vehicle collision, lack of food, the use of pesticides and now experts have warned that gardening could be another culprit.
Garden strimmers are one of the biggest causes of death or severely injuring a hedgehog.
Experts have issued a warning to anyone who spots hedgehogs in their garden this summer
The mammals can suffer horrific injuries when accidently hit by a strimmer.
The RHS has advised gardeners to check long grass for hedgehogs before starting up their strimmers this summer.
A spokesperson for RHS told the Express: ‘Always check the whole area carefully before strimming, and cut long grass with care.
‘Strimmers are one of the biggest causes of fatal or severely injuring hedgehog accidents, so even if you haven’t noticed hedgehogs in your garden, always check thoroughly before cutting long grass.’
Meanwhile they also warned robotic mowers are being urged to check with the manufacturer to ensure that they have good safety precautions to prevent injury to hedgehogs.
Hope Nothhelfer, a communications officer at the Mammal Society, told The Guardian: ‘This decline will likely come as no surprise to the average person.
‘When hedgehogs come up in conversation, it’s not long before someone says that they just don’t see them any more.
‘The hope is that as hedgehogs become more and more like a distant memory from our childhoods, we will respond with action that will bring these memories back to life.’
The Royal Horticultural Society, which is the leading UK gardening charity, have urged homeowners with gardens to keep their eyes peeled for the spiny mammal throughout the summer (stock image)
Leading gardening brand Gardman has shared its top tips on how to make your garden a welcoming space for the adorable animals.
Create a gap in your garden fence for hedgehogs to pass through
As many modern gardens are often surrounded by high fences, creating a 13cm x 13cm gap at the bottom of a fence allows for easy passage between neighbouring gardens, which are known as hedgehog highways.
To ensure that hedgehogs do not catch their spines as they move from garden to garden, you should always keep the area clear of netting and plant growth.
Offer them a safe and comfortable home
If you have access to logs and dry leaves, you can create a welcoming hedgehog haven, but if you don’t have a plentiful supply, then a hedgehog house will provide the perfect accommodation.
Some hedgehog houses are constructed from a sturdy rust-resistant steel frame, and covered with a natural camouflage finish, enabling it to blend in nicely with the natural surroundings of your garden.
Always keep plenty of fresh water
Hydration is a must for hedgehogs so ensure there are plenty of clean, shallow bowls of water available around the garden.
Gardman advises to top them up regularly, particularly during periods of hot weather.
They also advise that adding stones and slate to the water creates landing spots for birds, butterflies, and bees too – so they can also pause for a drink.
Keep a good supply of quality food
Many people think milk is a good source of food for hedgehogs, but in reality, it gives them an upset stomach.
Gardman Hedgehog Bites have been created with the essential vitamins and minerals hedgehogs need.
These high-energy, tasty bites supplement the natural food they will find in your garden. The food can be placed on the ground or in a dedicated feeding tray.
Make your garden safe for your hedgehog visitors
Ponds provide a wonderful wildlife habitat but must always have an escape route, such as a ramp or series of semi-submerged ledges, which will enable an easy exit.
Following these simple tips will make gardens a much more welcoming place for these enchanting creatures.
Running from Sunday May 5 to Saturday May 11, National Hedgehog Week is organised by The British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS).