Their unique appearance and charming personality make hedgehogs one of the UK’s most favourite animals. However, population numbers of this much-loved mammal have slumped from an estimated 36 million in the 1950s to fewer than one million today.

After a rapid decline in numbers hedgehogs are now considered as ‘near threatened’ on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's red list. These lovable mammals are particularly in danger in rural areas where numbers have plummeted by almost 50%. This is mainly due to human involvement like intensive farming, traffic, lack of food, pesticides and poorly managed gardens.

And now people who have a garden are being urged to look out for hedgehogs when doing one garden activity that can cause this animal very painful injuries and often death.

Strimmers are one of the biggest causes of fatal or severely injuring hedgehog accidents. Many suffer horrific injuries when hit by a trimmer, with many instantly killed.

The RHS, the UK’s largest garden charity, advises checking your whole garden carefully before strimming, as hedgehogs may be taking shelter in the long grass.

A spokesperson for RHS said: “Always check the whole area carefully before strimming, and cut long grass with care. 

“Strimmers are one of the biggest causes of fatal or severely injuring hedgehog accidents, so even if you haven’t noticed hedgehogs in your garden, always check thoroughly before cutting long grass.”

People are also being alerted that this habitat can also be full of other creatures, such as amphibians and smaller mammals.

Those with robotic mowers are being urged to check with the manufacturer to ensure that they have good safety precautions to prevent injury to hedgehogs.

Hedgehogs also like to take refuge in compost heaps as it is a secluded, warm and dry space for nesting and hibernation especially during the colder months. A compost heap is also full of insects and other invertebrates which are part of a hedgehogs diet.