I read your article on hedgehogs in last week’s paper with great interest. I agree that more needs to be done to protect this endearing animal. Most people I speak to say they haven’t seen a live hedgehog for years, just the occasional dead one on the road. I was shocked, however, to read that their population has dropped from 30 million in the 1950s to around one million today. I wanted to remind readers to be careful when using a strimmer in their garden.

I’m sad to say that some five years ago I was strimming and damaged a sleeping hedgehog hidden in the long grass. I felt so bad about hurting it and I’m sorry to say that it died from its injuries. I would encourage all gardeners to check for hedgehogs with a stick in the long grass before using a streamer, especially near hedges. Hedgehogs have been around for millions of years and it’s dreadful to think that the activities of homosapiens could cause them to become extinct in the UK.

Gerald Davies

(Raglan)