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Gardeners are being urged by wildlife experts to drill holes in the bottom of their fences before the spring season begins to help a much-loved (and much-endangered) British species. It's that time of year again when hedgehogs begin to wake up from their hibernation and could use assistance in gardens. Therefore, if you're interested in making your garden more welcoming for hedgehogs, consider checking your fence.

While drilling holes in your fence may not be the most popular garden fence task, wildlife specialists suggest that hedgehogs will greatly benefit from it. Referred to as a hedgehog highway, these openings provide a secure route for hedgehogs to access food and shelter, away from danger. Here's all the information you need to understand.

Hedgehog highways consist of a series of gaps and holes that traverse hedges and fences, forming safe pathways for hedgehogs to move through.

Since hedgehogs face the danger of being harmed on roads, these highways provide a secure route for them to travel without any danger.

Anton Baskerville, wildlife expert at Woodlands.co.uk, explained: "Hedgehogs like to roam large distances to find food, mates, and nesting sites.

"In urban environments, fences, walls, and other barriers can limit their movement, making it harder for them to meet these basic needs.

"A hedgehog highway enables them to safely travel between gardens and other habitats, greatly improving their chances of survival and reproduction."

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In the UK, hedgehogs are recognised as being at risk of extinction. Their population has greatly decreased, particularly in countryside regions, because of habitat destruction, fatalities on roads, and a decrease in available food sources.

The great thing about building a hedgehog highway is that you don't need to remove a large section of your hedge or fence.

Experts at the leading environmental consultancy group Thomson Environmental Consultants advised: "Creating a CD-case-sized gap in garden fences allows hedgehogs to move freely between gardens.

"By coordinating with your neighbours, you can establish a connected network of gardens and mark gaps to raise awareness."