A North East wildlife charity has launched an animal adoption scheme with the aim of protecting the region's wildlife.
Northumberland Wildlife Trust, which owns and manages more than 60 nature reserves in Newcastle, Northumberland and North Tyneside, has launched its Adopt an Animal scheme with the aim of protecting owls and hedgehogs. 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 also since 2000.
