Less than half of people have seen a hedgehog in their garden in the past year, according to a survey which suggests the well-loved prickly mammal continues to struggle.
An annual survey for BBC Gardeners' World Magazine found 51% of people had not seen a hedgehog at all, more than the 48% who reported a total absence in last year's poll.
Only around one in eight respondents (12%) had seen a hedgehog regularly, while some 37% had spotted one in their garden, but not for a long time.
But the survey suggests people are keen to save the species, immortalised by Beatrix Potter as Mrs Tiggy-Winkle and a friend to gardeners as it feeds on pests such as caterpillars and slugs, with the majority (60%) taking action to help its plight.
More than a third (36%) of the 2,619 people who responded to the survey had avoided using slug pellets and 34% left leaves and twigs for shelter.
A quarter (26%) had checked for the mammals before strimming and more than a fifth (21%) checked bonfires before lighting them.
The hedgehog has suffered serious long term declines and continues to see its numbers drop, with populations thought to have fallen by 30% since 2003 to less than a million in the UK - down from estimated populations of 36 million in the 1950s.
The survey also revealed that some birds were faring worse in 2016, with the number of people spotting house sparrows and starlings both down, as were sightings of butterflies including tortoiseshells and peacocks.
Lucy Hall, BBC Gardeners' World editor, said: "Gardeners are increasingly acting to help wildlife, but the question is can we do it fast enough to halt this sharp decline in numbers?
"Our message to all garden owners is to see your outdoor space as a small-scale nature reserve - part of a network of gardens that link to make a great big, valuable habitat.
"Seen like this, every small step you can make to help wildlife really does make a big difference when we all act together."
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