Residents and businesses across East Cambridgeshire are being asked to help out with hibernating hedgehogs.

Hedgehog numbers across the East of England are declining rapidly and they particularly need help this time of year as they prepare to hibernate during the winter months.

Depending on the weather and their body condition, they go into hibernation from October/ November to March/ April.

In a public vote, hedgehogs have been chosen as the endangered animal residents would most like East Cambridgeshire District Council to support over the coming year.

As part of this campaign, the council is working with Hedgehog Street to raise awareness of what people can do to help hedgehogs safely through the winter months.

One of the main reasons hedgehogs are struggling in Britain is because our fences and walls are becoming more and more secure, reducing the amount of land available to them.

Have a look around your garden and see if it can be accessed by a hedgehog. They typically need a 13cm by 13cm hole, which can be cut into a fence to create access.

Hedgehogs must feed intensively and be in great condition before hibernating if they are to have enough reserves to last the winter.

Hedgehogs eat a wide variety of insects and other invertebrates including beetles, earthworms and caterpillars.

The best way to support a hedgehog is to leave areas of your garden undisturbed. Alternatively, you can leave out cat or dog food or specialist hedgehog food. A shallow dish of water can also be provided.

Emma Danielsson, the council’s climate change and natural environment officer, said: “Whether you live in a rural environment or one of our market towns, there is so much we can all do to help hedgehogs.

"It does not take a lot of effort, or a lot of money, but the rewards of seeing one snuffle across your lawn are priceless.”

More information on East Cambridgeshire District Council’s Hedgehog Campaign is available on the ECDC website.