Wildlife is disappearing at an alarming rate across the UK, but the Trust is committed to reversing that trend by creating 30% more space for nature, which will give wildlife more space to call home, recover and adapt to climate change.

As part of this commitment, the wildlife charity which owns and manages over 60 nature reserves in Newcastle, Northumberland and North Tyneside, has launched its new Adopt an Animal adoption scheme celebrating two iconic UK wildlife species - owls and hedgehogs.

By adopting either a hedgehog or an owl for £20, the money raised will support important conservation work such as managing nature reserves, creating new habitats and delivering educational activities to help more people understand how to protect these endangered animals - and many more besides.

The UK’s owls are declining at an alarming rate with numbers falling dramatically since 2000.

Since 2015, tawny owls have been added to the Amber List on the BTO Birds of Conservation Concern report after breeding and winter population have declined due to loss of woodland habitat and suitable trees for nesting.

Likewise, the UK hedgehog population is on the decline, with numbers dropping by up to 30% in urban areas and 50% in rural areas in the UK again, since 2000.

Loss of nesting and foraging habitat through urban development and rural hedgerow removal are causing hedgehogs to struggle to find somewhere to breed, hibernate and to source enough food to survive.

In addition, 335,000 hedgehogs are estimated to die on British roads each year with thousands taken to rescue centres with garden injuries and dog bites. Because of all these factors they are now listed as ‘vulnerable’ on Britain’s Red List of animals of concern.

In this region, there are hedgehogs on the majority of the Trust’s reserves and long eared owls at West Chevington, little owls at Druridge Pools, tawny owls at Cresswell, East Chevington, Hauxley, Briarwood Banks and Fencerhill Wood in Newcastle, barn owls at Cresswell, Benshaw Moor, Big Waters and Northumberlandia and short eared owls across the whole of the Druridge Bay area over the winter.

Duncan Hutt, Northumberland Wildlife Trust Director of Conservation says:

“Although we have hedgehogs and the full range of local owl species across the wide range of our reserves, it is something we would never take for granted.

“Our work is relentless and any help the public gives us is very much appreciated which is why the Adopt an Animal scheme is so important to us.

“Not only will the scheme provide much needed funding, the hedgehog or owl adoption pack will give us the opportunity to tell people more about the animal they are adopting - where to see and hear them, what they eat and what they can do to help conserve them.”

To find out more visit www.nwt.org.uk/support-us/adopt-animal

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