HEDGEHOG carer Kim Goodridge is looking for someone to take over the Wiltshire Hedgehog Rescue Centre.

Mrs Goodridge, of Ashwood Road, Rudloe, is now aged 80 and feels it’s time to pass on the baton to someone else.

She said: “I have 11 boxes and two large boxes if someone wishes to take them on, and am willing to give free help and advice.”

She has run the Wiltshire Hedgehog Rescue Centre at Rudloe since 2005. Only recently she helped to rescue three young hedgehogs from Rudloe, Chippenham and Melksham.

Meanwhile, homeowners and wildlife enthusiasts have been advised on how they can do their bit to help the urban hedgehog population as numbers continue to plummet.

As of 2018, hedgehog numbers stand at just one million – a considerably lower figure than the 30 million recorded in the 1950s.

Assisting young hedgehogs is surprisingly easy, and almost everyone with a back garden or patch of land can do their bit.

Here are seven tips to help hedgehogs thrive:

l Water dish: leave out a shallow bowl of fresh water every evening – preferably a non-tip dish – for hedgehogs to access clean water. Make sure you stick to water only Don’t use milk as it can upset their tummies.

l Food: hedgehogs love a meaty feast. Put out a small dish of dog or cat food in a quiet, covered area around dusk to keep their bellies full through the night.

l Landscaping: leave some overgrown corners where hedgehogs can hide and snuffle for insects.

l Safety: cover drains and holes and place bricks around the edge of garden ponds to stop them from falling in and drowning. Check for any hoglets under hedges before using strimmers or mowers, and make sure there are none hiding in your compost heap before forking over.

l Clean up: make sure you clean up any rubbish – particularly any full bin liners that hedgehogs may be tempted to crawl into in search of food.

l Housing: you can buy specially-made homes online, or use an upturned waste paper bin, plant pot or wooden box with a little doorway cut out. Use heavy stones on top to prevent it from being tipped or blown over.

l Handle with care: if you believe a hedgehog in your garden to be injured, the best thing to do is contact a specialist group or rescue centre in your area and try to keep the hedgehog safe until you receive advice, rather than rushing in and hurting or scaring the animal.