Charities launch first ever national hedgehog conservation strategy to halt species’ decline after numbers fall by 75 per cent since 2000

Charities have launched the first national hedgehog conservation strategy to halt the species’ decline. 

The People’s Trust for Endangered Species and the British Hedgehog Preservation Society have published a guide to protect the animals after their numbers fell by up to 75 per cent since 2000.

Factors include decreases in invertebrate prey, vehicle collisions and exposure to toxins found in plastics. 

Charities have launched the first national hedgehog conservation strategy to halt the species’ decline

The People’s Trust for Endangered Species and the British Hedgehog Preservation Society have published a guide to protect the animals after their numbers fell by up to 75 per cent since 2000

Factors include decreases in invertebrate prey, vehicle collisions and exposure to toxins found in plastics

Fay Vass, BHPS chief executive, hopes it will encourage industries such as transport, farming and construction to ‘scale up conservation work with hedgehogs in mind’, adding: ‘By 2034, I hope the future for our hedgehogs is significantly brighter.’ 

She said the public can help by creating ‘hedgehog highways’ – holes in a fence to connect neighbouring gardens to help them find food – and providing places to nest such as log piles.