Cambridge MP Daniel Zeichner visited one of his spikiest constituents on Friday 27 September as he opened Trumpington Meadows’ brand-new hedgehog release pen.

The MP helped release the site’s first prickly customer. The hedgehog, who goes by the name of Nora, was rescued a month ago and has been recovering at Shepreth Hedgehog Hospital. Nora will hopefully be the first of many hedgehogs released at the site.

The Shepreth Wildlife Trust’s site has become an accredited hedgehog release area for the iconic animals, who were previously sick or injured and then nursed back to health by their hedgehog doctors.

Hedgehog numbers have plummeted in recent years – down by a third since the turn of the century according to the “State of Britain’s Hedgehogs” report.

Just 498 hedgehogs have been sighted in the Cambridge area as recorded on the Big Hedgehog Map.

The MP found out how everyone can help the small reclusive creatures by making their gardens hedgehog-friendly, with a log pile or by making CD-sized holes in fences.

Mr Zeichner said: “Hedgehogs are in a bit of a prickle at the moment but it’s great to find out hog lovers everywhere can do their bit to help our prickly friends.”