Key task to do in your garden now to help hedgehogs

They're one of Britain's most loved wild visitors but hedgehogs are in trouble.

These prickly nocturnal wanderers travel up to 2km a night in search of food and mates, slipping through holes in fences, squeezing beneath gates and rooting around in compost heaps or woodpiles.

Populations have been declining sharply in both town and countryside, yet BBC's Gardeners' World have shared simple, practical things gardeners can do to give them a fighting chance.

Create access points

One of the simplest yet most effective actions is to cut a small hole at the base of your fence, 13cm by 13cm, so hedgehogs can travel between gardens. Linking up with neighbours to create a "hedgehog highway" means they can cover more ground in search of food and safe nesting sites.

Plant a hedge

Hedges are natural havens for hedgehogs. Not only do they make it easy for animals to move between plots, but the fallen leaves and tangled undergrowth beneath provide perfect shelter. Native species like hawthorn, hazel and dog rose will also encourage moths and other insects to lay eggs, boosting the supply of caterpillars - a key part of the hedgehog diet.

Make ponds safe

Hedgehogs can swim, but they tire quickly and can drown if they can't get out. If you've got a pond, make sure it has gentle, sloping sides. Alternatively, lay a log into the water or drape strong netting over the edge so they can clamber out.

Check before strimming

Wildlife hospitals are full of hedgehogs injured by garden tools. Always check long grass, leaf piles and hedgerows before using a strimmer. If you find a hedgehog, carefully move it to a quiet, safe corner before you start work.

Avoid slug pellets

Hedgehogs eat a wide variety of invertebrates - beetles, caterpillars, worms - but slugs and snails are not ideal. Not only can they give hedgehogs lungworm, but conventional slug pellets are highly toxic. Better options include wildlife-friendly methods such as beer traps, copper tape or hand-picking.

Build a hedgehog house

Hedgehogs need a dry, secure place to hibernate and raise their young. A purpose-built hedgehog house can be tucked into a north-facing hedge or a quiet corner of the garden. Cover it with leaves or plastic sheeting for extra insulation, and add a narrow tunnel-like entrance to deter predators.

Leave out extra food

While natural forage is best, supplementary food can give hedgehogs a boost - particularly in early spring when they emerge from hibernation. Meat-based cat or dog food (chicken or turkey flavour) and kitten biscuits are ideal. Avoid bread, milk and mealworms, which can cause serious health problems. Always put out a shallow bowl of water too.

Grow native plants

Plants such as honeysuckle, blackthorn and dog rose attract insects whose caterpillars later pupate on the ground - the perfect high-protein snack for passing hedgehogs. More native plants mean more biodiversity, which benefits your garden as well as the wildlife.

Retain leaves and logs

That pile of leaves in the corner of your garden isn't a mess - it's potential shelter for a nesting or hibernating hedgehog. Compost heaps, stacks of logs and bundles of twigs are all excellent spots for them to take cover. Leaving these in place also encourages the insects hedgehogs love to eat.

Check bonfires

Bonfire piles are irresistible to hedgehogs looking for somewhere warm to bed down. To avoid tragedy, either build and light your bonfire on the same day, or carefully move the pile before setting it alight.