Stray blades that endanger wildlife

The RSPCA is calling for extra care to avoid harming or disturbing wildlife as gardeners begin their spring tidy-ups.

Now is the peak time of year for wild animals to sustain serious and often fatal gardening-related injuries – many inflicted by strimmers, mowers and forks.

Hedgehogs often nest in long grass and overgrown areas and can be hard to spot in the vegetation. Frogs, toads and snakes are also susceptible, as well as birds that will be busy building nests and rearing young.

A quick check could be all that is needed to prevent young animals from being abandoned and to save others from losing a limb or worse. Avoiding cutting hedges while birds are nesting until August is also advisable.

It is worth keeping areas of the garden wild and untidy as many animals rely on leaf piles, compost heaps and weeds for nesting and food.