With the spotlight turned on the UK's spikiest mammals during hedgehog awareness week last week, a Dorset wildlife group is increasing its activism to save the rapidly diminishing species - and your town could do its bit to help.

The Dorset Mammal Group is aiming to reverse the decline of the hedgehog population in Dorset by developing towns and villages into what the group describes as 'hedgehog-friendly habitats'.

"As hedgehogs travel around one mile every night in their quest to find enough food, and a mate, we are trying to make their life easier," the group said in a statement. "We are encouraging residents to develop hedgehog-friendly streets by making holes in, or under, their garden fences and walls for hedgehogs to pass through.

"We are also encouraging residents to adopt hedgehog-friendly activities in their garden by providing food and shelter in gardens and where slug pellets are not used. If you have a hedgehog you also have a very efficient slug consumer!"

Dorset towns and villages that have qualified for 'hedgehog-friendly' status include Bridport, Piddletrenthide, East Stour, Blandford, Dorchester and Bere Regis, while Beaminster, Portland and Wareham are making efforts towards that end.

Each town or village has its own hedgehog coordinator, who oversees the process from initial presentation by the Dorset Mammal Group through the steps that need to be taken to ensure hedgehog-friendly conditions.

"We are also working with four of Dorset’s hedgehog rescuers, providing funding for poorly hedgehogs as well as helping with the overwintering of hedgehogs," the group added.

Caroline Gould, founder of a wildlife hospital in Gloucestershire, delivered a well-attended course on hedgehog care in Dorchester earlier this year, and this week praised the efforts of the Dorset Mammal Group.

"[DMG] are doing some very good work," Ms Gould told the Echo. "Hedgehogs should be encouraged in gardens - nowadays there are too many patios, solid fences and decking.

"There's a reason they're called hedgehogs - they need natural gardens and shrubbery."

She also urged hedgehog-lovers not to feed mealworms, peanuts or sunflower hearts to the mammals, as these foodstuffs can cause metabolic bone deformities; instead, she said, meaty cat and dog food should be left out.

Meanwhile, a talk will be held next Friday, May 25, on the dangers facing Dorset and the UK's hedgehogs.

'The Hedgehog Predicament', a talk with slides by Colin Varndell, will be held at Netherbury village hall from 7 pm; entry is £3.

Anyone interested in how their town or village - or garden - can become more hedgehog-friendly can contact DMG on hedgehogs@dorsetmammalgroup.org.uk.