The world’s first caravan holiday park for hedgehogs, where they can hibernate safety this winter, has been created.

Parkdean Resorts has launched a nationwide initiative to protect hedgehogs about to enter hibernation near to its 67 caravan parks across the UK.

Hedgehogs were put on the endangered species list this year for the first time following a 98 per cent decline in population.

Because of this, Parkdean Resorts built the world’s first holiday park for hedgehogs, creating a safe and snug home where they can hibernate in peace. What started as a local initiative at Parkdean Resorts’ White Cross Bay park in the Lake District, has now expanded nationwide.

Hedgehogs are now endangered, with numbers in the wild dropping to 500,000 in 2018.

If current rates of decline continue, it’s possible that hedgehogs could be completely extinct in less than two years. They hibernate in tight spaces in winter, and prone to being attacked by other wildlife and at danger of being caught in lawnmowers and other machines.

Catherine Lynn, chief customer officer at Parkdean Resorts, said: “We wanted to do something big and bold to grab the nation’s attention and encourage everyone to play their part in helping protect hedgehogs.

“And what’s more eye-catching than a miniature holiday park, designed and built especially for hedgehogs? We hope this world’s first will inspire people to support our prickly pals at their most vulnerable time of year.”