Gardeners urged to help hedgehogs this week for 1 key reason

With forecasters predicting temperatures to surge above 30C in many parts of England this week, gardeners are being urged to take simple steps to help protect hedgehogs and other vulnerable wildlife from the intensifying heatwave. According to the Met Office, a combination of high pressure and warm southerly winds is driving a sharp rise in temperatures across England and Wales, with peak conditions expected midweek. London could see highs in the mid-30s by Tuesday, while much of central and southern England is expected to meet official heatwave criteria by Wednesday, according to the meteorological service.

The UK Health Security Agency has issued Yellow and Amber Heat Health Alerts for parts of England, warning of potential impacts on health services, particularly affecting the elderly, young children, and those with underlying health conditions. However, it's not just people who are vulnerable in extreme heat, wildlife is at risk too.

James Lewis, an expert from MyBuilder.com told The Moorlander: "While our gardens can be a real haven for hedgehogs, certain elements can represent a danger at this time of year.

"Ponds, paddling pools, and even drains can cause serious harm or even death to hedgehogs, so it's essential that these are adequately made safe.

"Simple steps in your garden can take away any risk, and in fact provide important elements to keep our wildlife healthy in the heat."

Experts from MyBuilder.com recommend making ponds and paddling pools safe with ramps or covers, providing shaded shelter like log piles or hedgehog houses, and avoiding disturbance to nests and hoglets.

Gardeners are also advised to leave areas of their garden wild to offer natural food and cover, check compost heaps before turning them, leave out water and wet food, and cover drains to prevent entrapment.

Often seen as a regular visitor of British gardens, hedgehogs are quietly disappearing. Once common across both rural and urban landscapes, they are now in serious trouble.

Hedgehogs are officially listed as "Vulnerable to Extinction" on Britain's Red List of Mammals.

The 2022 State of Britain's Hedgehogs report estimates that hedgehog numbers have decreased by up to 75% in rural areas since the turn of the century. Urban populations have also declined, though at a slower rate, with losses of up to 30% reported.

Habitat loss, traffic, the widespread of pesticides, climate extremes like heatwaves, and increasingly hostile garden environments are among the leading causes of the species' decline.