RSPB urges hedgehog help

A “worrying” drop in the number of hedgehogs being found in Kent gardens has baffled experts.

There has been a decrease of nearly four per cent in the species, according to the latest conservation survey carried out by the RSPB.

RSPB communications officer Tim Webb said it was unclear why hedgehog numbers had declined, but revealed some simple ways to help increase the amount of wildlife, without completely changing your garden.

He said: “The one thing that has come out of our survey is that gardens are hugely important for wildlife and without our gardens we lose a huge arc of wildlife.

“Hedgehogs just need somewhere they can forage for food. They eat slugs, snails and beetles, which is great for gardeners.”

He added: “There are simple things you can do like planting wild flowers, re-planting hedges instead of solid barriers because hedgehogs love to wander and barriers won’t allow them to move freely from one space to another.

“Berries and fruit are also very important for wildlife as well and a whole range of seeds. Even just letting a bit of grass grow long around the edges of your garden is a huge help.”