SURREY Wildlife Trust is teaming up with RHS Wisley to host a special ‘Help for Hedgehogs’ Conference on Monday, October 26.

As part of Wild About Gardens Week (Mon 26 Octtober 26 to Nov 1), the annual celebration of garden wildlife hosted by the Royal Horticultural Society and The Wildlife Trusts, this event is for anyone who cares about one of the nation’s favourite garden visitors.

Hedgehogs are in trouble – they have declined by 30 per cent in the last 10 years alone and there are now thought to be fewer than one million left in the UK.

To help encourage people to think about how hedgehog friendly their gardens, schools and community spaces are, this year’s Wild About Gardens Week, with partner organisation Hedgehog Street, will form a week-long call to action. The week will be a celebration of the humble hedgehog, packed with events, competitions and opportunities to get stuck in which will include:

• A host of hedgehog-themed events, from talks and workshops to community activities. At RHS Wisley, a Help for Hedgehogs conference will consist of a range of fascinating talks from national hedgehog experts, covering the secret lives of these creatures, their homes and how we can ensure that they remain a familiar part of our lives. Add your own event or search for those happening near you at: www.wildaboutgardensweek.org.uk/events

• A call to action to create hedgehog holes in fences – a handy 13cm by 13cm template can be downloaded from the Wild About Gardens Week website.

• A competition to design the best hedgehog home. There will be three categories: individual, group and school. The prizes will range from a trail camera to a visit from a hedgehog expert. Closing date: Monday, November 9.

• A downloadable new booklet, available from the Wild About Gardens Week website, will demonstrate steps you can take to help hedgehogs in your garden.

• All information at: www.wildaboutgardensweek.org.uk

Dr Nigel Reeve, hedgehog scientist, said: “Hedgehogs are one of the most popular mammals in our countryside, parks and gardens. Once a familiar sight, there is increasing and worrying evidence that our hedgehogs are now in serious decline.

“Our hHelp for Hedgehogs’ conference will bring together a range of experts to reveal the mysterious private life of this special animal and to show how gardeners and land managers can act now to do their bit for wildlife and to help our struggling hedgehogs.”

For further details on the Help for Hedgehogs conference, see www.surreywildlifetrust.org/hedgehogs. For more information about how to help hedgehogs see www.wildaboutgardensweek.org.uk.