A new community-minded project has been set up to give endangered hedgehogs a fighting chance of survival this winter.

Dartford residents are being asked to spare a thought for our spiky friends who were recently classified as vulnerable to extinction.

There are many reasons why hedgehogs are in decline but research suggests in urban areas it is largely due to a combination of busy roads, pesticide use and impenetrable garden fences.

Hedgehogs like to roam anywhere between 1-2km at night looking for food or a suitable mate.

But our backyard fences can prove a barrier to this free movement and so when one councillor was alerted to the prickly situation she sought to help devise a solution.

Green party Cllr Laura Edie and local resident Joelle Larney are hoping to support hedgehogs to flourish locally by educating the community on the ways they can care for them.

Together they have set up the Dartford Hedgehog Project which plans to create hedgehog highways, starting in Newtown and then rolling out across Dartford.

A hedgehog highway is a small gap built into the bottom of a garden fence, wall or hedge, which enables hedgehogs to easily move between gardens.

It is hoped providing access along stretches of neighbouring backyards will allow the critters enough space to forage and prevent accidental trappings.

Cllr Edie said: “When Joelle contacted me about the national demise in the hedgehog population, I was shocked to hear how few remain and delighted to start this project with her.

"Climate change means many species across the world are struggling to survive, and this can bring with it a sense of powerlessness.

"That's why I think it's great for the local community and particularly children to be involved in this project.

"It's an exciting opportunity to take positive action, and to realise everyone can play a part in protecting our local wildlife."

The size of the hole should allow any hedgehog to pass through but be too small for nearly all pets.

Joelle said: “The hedgehog highway holes only need to be roughly the size of a CD and we can help create these if needed.

"We also want to raise awareness of how harmful pesticides and slug pellets can be and the other ways hedgehogs can be supported – such as providing fresh food/ water, leaving some dead wood and flowers as areas to forage and having hedgehog houses to provide shelter.

"It's also important to remember to check before strimming, in case any animals are hidden in long grass!"

Since starting the group Cllr Edie says neighbours have been spotting hedgehogs after not seeing them for many years.

The next steps will be to start doing talks in local schools and the group is also on the look out for anyone handy with a toolkit and able to create holes.

More information can be found on the Facebook group Dartford Hedgehog Project by clicking here.