SPRING - Hedgehogs begin to emerge from a long hibernation. They are hungry and desperately thirsty. Please put out food and water for them at this time as food may still be quite scarce. Hedgehogs will beging to mate and you may notice their distinctive 'huffing' sound!

SUMMER - Hedgehogs will usually have their first litter of babies in June. If you come across a nest, please try not to disturb anything and if in doubt, please contact a local hedgehog carer. If a nest is discovered without a mother during the daytime, something has probably happened to her. If she does not return within a few hours, contact a local carer for advice. If you find a hedgehog baby weighing under 250g out on its own at this time of year it will need help - please contact us immediately.

Flystrike is a great problem at this time of year because of the warmer weather. Any hog seen out in the day is more at risk from flystrike and is usually in trouble.

AUTUMN - Bonfire night is an extremely dangerous time for hedgehogs. Please make sure you check and re-site any bonfires before lighting them. Any hedgehogs weighing less than 550g at the beginning of November, especially out in daylight will need to be taken to a carer.

WINTER - Most hedgehogs will be hibernating during these months, but if you come across a hedgehog out during the day or one that is ill or injured, please contact a local carer.

FEEDING - Leave out suitable food such as tinned meat based cat or dog food (not fish). Kitten and puppy biscuits are also popular. Food should be placed outside in the evening just before dusk. All uneaten food should be removed first thing in the morning before flies have the chance to settle.

NEVER GIVE A HEDGEHOG BREAD AND MILK - they cannot digest bread and cows milk gives them very bad diarrhoea.

PESTICIDES - Use natural alternatives to pesticides. They are detrimental to our own health as well as wildlife. Slug pellets WILL KILL hedgehogs and Rat poison will do the same. Try using beer traps to catch the slugs in your garden.

STRIMMERS - Please take great care when using strimmers. Many hedgehogs are admitted to rescue centres with horrendous injuries caused by strimmers. Taking a minute to check along the bottom of a hedge or garden border before starting work could save a life.

PONDS - Hedgehogs will drown in garden ponds and swimming pools unless steps are taken to enable them to scramble out. A basket of water plants placed on the shelf near the edge of a pond can be a lifesaver. Swimming pools should be covered in order to prevent children and wildlife from accidently falling in and drowning.

BONFIRES - Many hedgehogs die horrific deaths by burning alive under bonfires. Always check the base of bonfires, and wherever possible re-site them before lighting. Also take great care when forking over the compost heaps as hedgehogs like to sleep/hibernate in them.

LITTER - Litter can pose a serious threat to all wildlife as they can easily become trapped inside objects such as plastic pots and tin cans. Dispose of litter properly and at the same time keep our country tidy. Check your garden and surrounding area is hedgehog friendly. Hogs can easily get tangled up in football nets or fall down drains. A quick check around the garden will keep our hogs safe and well.

HOUSES - Buy or make a hedgehog house and provide a hog with a safe and warm area to nest or hibernate. Hog houses can be found fairly cheaply online or build one yourself out of a pile of logs. Site the house in a quiet and covered area of the garden and wait for a grateful hog to move in! Replacing hedgerows and rough field edges create ideal foraging areas for hedgehogs as does leaving an area of your garden to grow wild.

WIRE MESH & NETTING - Never leave unused mesh, football, tennis or garden netting lying around. Allow a gap of about a foot at the bottom of any netting, so hedgehogs can pass safely underneath. They sustain terrible injuries when trying to escape, if they have become entangled. If you find a hog entanged please contact us for advice.