HAMPSHIRE has been revealed to be the top county for spotting hedgehogs, according to a new study.

Hedgehog Street, run by wildlife charity the British Hedgehog Preservation Society and People’s Trust for Endangered Species, has revealed the counties across the British Isles who are recording the most number of native hedgehog sightings and are calling for more people to 'Log their Hogs' online via their website.

The data, which is from Hedgehog Street’s BIG Hedgehog Map, shows all recorded sightings of hedgehogs- dead or alive- since 2015.

Emily Wilson, Hedgehog Officer for Hedgehog Street says: “We’re so pleased that people across the country are actively recording sightings of hedgehogs when they see them.

"While the heatmap does not reflect actual hedgehog distribution, the more data we can gather, the better picture we have of where hedgehogs are located across the British Isles, which helps us to protect these beautiful but endangered animals."

The BIG Hedgehog Map is an online platform that allows members of the public to record when and where they have seen the quilled mammals.

The organisation has collated these sightings to create a ‘heatmap’ showing where in the British Isles the public are most actively recording sightings of hedgehogs.

Hampshire ranked top with 1,250 hedgehogs records followed by Oxfordshire with 803 recordings.

There have been approximately 153 hedgehog sightings in Southampton, 118 in Eastleigh, 51 in Totton, 45 in Fareham and 44 in Romsey.

Bath and north-east Somerset had the lowest rank with only 60 hedgehog sightings recorded.

Emily added: “A lower number or no sightings doesn’t necessarily mean there are less hedgehogs in the given area, but simply that we’re not being told about them.

"Therefore, we’re asking anyone who sees a hedgehog to record their sightings on the BIG Hedgehog Map.”

As well as logging sightings of hedgehogs, the BIG Hedgehog Map can also record when someone has made a hedgehog hole in or under their garden fence or wall – something Hedgehog Street strongly encourages people to do, as this allows hedgehogs wider access to food, shelter and mates.

To record sightings of hedgehogs, visit: www.bighedgehogmap.org.