Harron Homes, which has a site at Edwinstowe, has teamed up with the British Hedgehog Preservation Society to offer protection

With hedgehogs heading into hibernation, a housebuilder is doing its best to make sure they are protected.

Harron Homes, which has a site at Edwinstowe, has teamed up with the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, to include more ways of protecting hedgehogs at its developments.

The collaboration follows a successful partnership with Butterfly Conservation earlier in the year, when butterfly homes were included on Harron plots.

The hedgehog population is declining rapidly in the UK, and they are now classified as vulnerable to extinction.

One reason for the decline is because fences and walls are reduc-ing the amount of land available to them by fragmenting it into small pockets.

Harron has introduced hedgehog highways ­— small holes in the base of fences to enable hedgehogs to roam freely ­— to some of its developments, with a view to including them in all future developments.

The housebuilder is also installing hedgehog homes designed by wildlife experts to offer hedgehogs and other small mammals a haven from hazards.

A log pile can also work well as a simple solution for hedgehogs to nest in, providing shelter and food in the form of bugs and grubs.

Fay Vass of the British Hedgehog Preservation Society said: “At this time of year, hedgehogs are particularly vulnerable and with the population decreasing they need as much help as possible to stay safe.

“We really appreciate Harron Homes’ efforts in joining up the landscape on their sites and creating a protective environment in showhome gardens.

“It will hopefully encourage more people to actively make space for hedgehogs in their gardens.”