With spring officially arriving today, 21 March, rural areas will see the resurgence of a great deal of local wildlife, from flora and fauna to animals big and small.

Local vets, rescue centres and establishments have shared their top tips on supporting your local wildlife population as animals begin to have their young, others appear from hibernation, and flowers blossom.

Firstly, walkers, outdoor adventurers and explorers young and old have been reminded not to stand on or pick flowers found in the wild.

This includes flowers in locations such as Cutts Close, where daffodils are in bloom.

Not only does this prevent others from enjoying them, but it damages regrowth, as the old leaves and petals help to compost the ground for the grass, summer flowers, and bulbs should they return next year.

You may also begin seeing bees, and picking flowers that are favoured pollinators will have a detrimental effect on this endangered species.

Bees like:

• Bluebells
• Daisies 
• Dandelions
• Goldenrod
• Lavender 
• Marigold 
• Milkweed
• Snapdragon
• Sunflower

Flowers in Cutts Close. Image credit: Nub News.

Flowers also encourage other insects, which in turn attracts the humble hedgehog.

A local hedgehog rescue team have shared their advice and expertise on the best practice to help you local hog population when they come out of hibernation from mid-March onwards.

Rachel, of Prickleback Urchin Hedgehog Rescue, explained: "Hibernation is a complex process during which the hedgehog will have dramatically reduced its metabolic rate, reducing their body temperature as low as possible without freezing. The hedgehog decreases its oxygen consumption, lowers its breathing and reduces its heart rate by a staggering 90% or more resulting in a torpor; this is very different to sleep.

"During hibernation hedgehogs will not have been completely inactive, they will have woken and moved about as the weather has changed.

"It is believed that males often emerge from hibernation slightly earlier than the females. When a hedgehog emerges from hibernation it may well have lost a quarter of its body weight or more! They wake with three things on their minds; food, water and reproduction!"

Rachel offered some simple tips on how to help our not-so-furry friends: "If you do not already do so Spring is the ideal time to always ensure a plentiful supply of water in shallow dishes in your garden for the benefit of all wildlife. A hedgehog that has just awoken will need to urgently replace the fluid and fat it has been living off during hibernation."

Hedgehogs are endangered. Image credit: Prickleback Urchin Hedgehog Rescue.

However, if hedgehogs come out too early, they may struggle, which means that many end up being take to Prickleback by local rescuers.

Rachel has reminded people that they are not a sanctuary, but an independently run centre formed to take care of the hogs. As such, visitors cannot come to see or handle the hedgehogs.

This will allow them to recover and head back to the wild as soon as possible. Read more, or find out how to support the upcoming quiz and raffle hosted by Prickleback.

It is not just hedgehogs who may encounter difficulties.

Young birds may also struggle as they begin to fledge the nest, but residents have been reminded not to take them from the wild.

A spokesperson from the Rutland Veterinary Centre said: "Removal of a fledgling from the wild reduces its chances of long-term survival to a small fraction, and is normally the worst thing that could be done. Fledglings should be left where they are, in the care of their parents.

"If the bird is on a busy path or road, or other potentially dangerous, exposed location, it makes sense to pick it up and move it a short distance to a safer place. Make sure you leave it within hearing distance of where it was found. Birds have a poor sense of smell so handling a young bird does not cause its parents to abandon it.

"If you have cats, make sure they are kept indoors until the fledglings are airborne. In any conflict of interest between wild animals and domestic pets, it is always the domestic pet that must give way."

Lambing season is underway. Image credit: Nub News.

Lambing season has also begun, and residents are asked to remain cautious of mothers who may be protective of their young.

While sheep are certainly resilient, they may still struggle with year-round issues such as sheep worrying, and frozen water troughs.

Although further cold spells are not anticipated, if temperatures drop below freezing, it is not uncommon for water supplies to freeze over.

Residents may break through a layer of ice if a water trough has frozen over, limiting access for sheep or other cattle. Ensure that you are warm and a safe distance from animals if you do so.

Do you have any more handy hints and tips to share?

Get in touch by emailing [email protected].