A WARNING the mild winter weather could accelerate the rapid decline in the UK’s hedgehog population was issued this week by wildlife expert Graham Cornick.

The much-loved animal voted Britain’s “national species” two years ago is fast vanishing, so the People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) and The British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) are launching a 10-year conservation strategy.

Their 2015 State of Britain’s Hedgehogs report, updating the findings of 2011, analyses data from four surveys between 2000 and 2014.

It identifies a continuing decline in both rural and urban landscapes. Since 2000, rural populations have declined by at least a half and urban populations by up to a third in the same period.

The latest threat to hedgehog numbers is the large number of late arrivals this year, triggered by the unseasonably mild weather.

Many will not have sufficient body weight to survive hibernation say the two groups.

Mr Cornick of Hydestile Resident Animals (HRA), near Milford, is caring for a record number of babies and is appealing to anyone coming across one to feed them up and provide a warm hibernation space.

Hedgehog foster families are invited to come to HRA’s Christmas Bazaar, at Milford Village Hall on Sunday, December 6, from 11am-3pm, where he can offer practical advice.

He said: “These late autumn babies are doomed to die because they can never put on sufficient weight. So many baby hedgehogs are being found, the nearest official wildlife centre in Medstead, Alton, has had to close its doors.

“People can take them in themselves.

“All they need to provide is a cardboard box with an old towel for bedding and cat or dog food mixed with Weetabix and chopped carrots or apple and some hard-boiled egg. That will see them through until spring.”

Above: Graham with two rescue hedgehogs

Picture by Pete Gardner