THE current spell of hot weather is enjoyed by most humans, but hedgehogs are struggling.

The heat dries the ground out making it difficult to find natural food such as slugs and worms. There is also a lack of available water; wildlife really does need our help in this weather. Leaving a shallow bowl of fresh water in the same place every night and offering some meat based pet food could save lives. As it is also baby season. mother hedgehogs will especially appreciate the help, and won't have to travel so far from their nest.

Another important way to help is to keep pond and pool levels topped up. Hedgehogs are very good swimmers, but cannot get out of steep high sided ponds and pools, and may drown as they get too tired to swim. Providing half submerged rocks in ponds or floats in pools could also help, as will checking each morning to see if anything has fallen in over night and needs help.

These little things take just a few minutes and really will make a huge difference, not only to hedgehogs, but to all manner of wildlife.

For your free copy of our leaflet Gardening with Hedgehogs please send an A5 stamped SAE to BHPS Gardening, Hedgehog House, Dhustone, Ludlow, SY8 3PL or see our website www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk

FAY VASS, Chief Executive, British Hedgehog Preservation Society, Ludlow.