Oxfordshire residents have the chance to get involved in Hedgehog Awareness Week, which will take place next month.

The week aims to inform the public about the challenges hedgehogs encounter and inspire interventions to assist them.

The British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) has launched the event which is scheduled for May 5-11.

This year, the charity's motto is 'Welcome Wildlife!', inviting residents to establish spaces within their gardens or green areas for wildlife habitation.

It also calls on landowners, schools, and councils to follow suit.

Hedgehogs serve as a crucial indicator species, reflecting the overall wellness of their living environment.

If they struggle, it suggests the habitat lacks essential elements.

They foreshadows bigger ecological problems that could impact other species.

Several actions can pave the way for a more hedgehog-friendly environment.

These include installing hedgehog highways, constructing logs and leaf piles, ensuring clean water supplies, making ponds and pools safer, ceasing the use of toxic substances, and reducing litter.

Fay Vass, chief executive for BHPS, said: "These small actions to ‘Welcome Wildlife’ during #HedgehogWeek can help create and link fantastic habitat for hedgehogs; just a little effort from each of us could make life a lot easier for them.

"If you don’t have a garden yourself, you can still help by contacting public space managers, neighbours, family and friends to ensure they are all doing their bit."