Ghostly apparitions of hedgehogs that fell victim to careless driving will begin to appear beside Dorset roads, as an animal welfare group aims to raise awareness on the plight of the critters.

The Dorset Mammal Group is taking action after it discovered that over 20 hedgehogs were killed on the roads in the village of Pimperne, north Dorset, in just one year.

Hedgehog populations in the UK have fallen dramatically in recent years, according to data from State of Britain’s Hedgehogs 2018 report. It is believed the overall population has declined in excess of 90 per cent since the end of World War 2.

Urban areas saw a fall of 30 per cent since the year 2000, while in rural areas their numbers have declined by 50 per cent. The small, poky mammals are scarcer in rural areas due to intensified agricultural practices which result in habitat loss and a lack of prey, predation and roadkill.

Rural roads often have higher speed limits and reduced lighting, which makes for a deadly combination for hedgehogs and other wildlife living amongst humans. The report estimated that around 100,000 hedgehogs are killed annually throughout the UK.

The Dorset Mammal Group will install white cutouts of hedgehogs along rural roads in Dorset to remind drivers of the lives lost and to remind them to drive more carefully.

Susy Varndell, hedgehog leader of the Dorset Mammal Group, said: “As part of our Hedgehog Project, we are fundraising for a dedicated Hedgehog Hospital.

“This is one aspect of our plan to make Dorset the most hedgehog-friendly county in the country. We are creating Hedgehog Friendly Towns and Villages, working with schools, training land managers, engaging in research, and encouraging people to become part of a network of rehabilitators.”

A dedicated hospital for the spiny creatures will allow the group to treat injured hedgehogs that are “all too often harmed by human activity”, she added.

“Our ultimate aim is to get them back into the wild where they belong, helping the resident populations to thrive.”

The campaign is supported by ecologist Hugh Warwick, who authored ‘The Hedgehog Book’. He said: “The hedgehog, the nation’s favourite animal, has just been added to the UK Red List of species as ‘vulnerable extinction’.

“This is tragic. Hedgehogs provide a point of connection to the natural world more effectively than any other animal. They share our gardens and green spaces - but for that to happen, we need to help them.

“Whether that is making sure there are Hedgehog Highways connecting gardens, or opening a local Hedgehog Hospital, we need to take action now before it’s too late.”

A petition started by Mr Warwick calling on the government to ensure new housing developments build “Hedgehog Highways” - 13cm holes in the bottom of fences that allow the animals to move freely between gardens to search for food and mates - has garnered nearly one million signatures.