POINTS OF ORDER

EASY WAYS YOU CAN BE A FRIEND TO HEDGEHOGS

- DAVID DOMONEY

THEY’RE one of our garden's greatest allies but hedgehogs desperately need our help.

Our prickly pals have been in the spotlight this week for Hedgehog Awareness Week which comes to an end today but the work to take care of them must continue.

As a proud patron of the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, I’m thrilled to support its mission to protect these lovely creatures whose numbers continue to decline across the UK.

Known as the gardener’s friend, hedgehogs are fantastic at keeping garden pest populations controlled.

By creating a haven for them in your outdoor space, you're not only supporting native wildlife, but you're also giving your plants a helping hand.

So here are some simple tips to help protect them in your garden.

SPOTTING HEDGEHOGS IN TROUBLE

If you’re lucky enough to see a hedgehog in your garden in the evening, let it forage freely without disturbance.

However, if it looks unwell, it may need urgent help. Some main signs to look out for are as follows: lethargy, especially if they're out during the day; flies around a hedgehog; wobbly on their feet; clear signs of injury or distress; a hedgehog trapped in a net, pond, drain or similar; hoglets out in the day without an adult, or squawking.