PEOPLE are being encouraged to save hedgehogs.

Wadars Animal Rescue in Hangleton Lane, Worthing, is promoting a new campaign, Hogtober.

It addresses the declining numbers of hedgehogs as they are a priority species for conservation.

Wadars has teamed up with Haskins’ Garden Centre in Roundstone Road, Littlehampton, to encourage residents to donate food for hedgehogs.

Those interested can take food to Wadars to help provide them care during the colder winter months.

Wadars staff will be hosting a talk at Haskins on Monday to teach people how to turn their gardens into a suitable environment for hedgehogs.

Tracy Cadman, operations manager at Wadars, right, said: “We are delighted to be teaming up with Haskins.

“The care and welfare of hedgehogs in our community is something right at the heart of what we do, and given the fantastic response to the talk already, it’s clearly something

that appeals to people too.”

Alasdair Urquhart, Haskins’ in-house plant expert, said: “Once a common sight, it’s now a treasure to have a hedgehog in your garden.

“Their natural food includes insects, slugs, snails, beetles, caterpillars and worms, so creating an environment which supports these creatures will encourage hedgehogs to stay.”