Hedgehogs in part of Cirencester have had a property upgrade this spring.

As the spiky mammals have emerged from winter hibernation, a local housebuilder has given them a property upgrade by placing a brand new ‘hogitat’ at its Pembroke Park development in the town.

The move is part of the housebuilder’s drive to support local wildlife and it’s hoped the new home will provide a safe haven as research shows dwindling numbers of the tiny mammals in the UK.

New figures released this year showed the British hedgehog population has plummeted by more than half since 2000. The report, produced by the People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) and the British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS), showed there are just a million left, representing a 97% fall from the 30m estimated to have roamed in the 1950s.

In response, David Wilson Homes pledged to install homes for hedgehogs at all of its new communities and a hogitat has been placed at Pembroke Park.

Sales director Louise Ware said: “We can’t help but smile thinking about what the hedgehogs will think when they see their new home. They’ll be upgrading from under sheds and in piles of leaves to a brand-new home, built specially for them. They’ll think all their Christmases have come at once!

To find out more about Pembroke Park visit www.dwh.co.uk.