The RSPB is encouraging people in North Yorkshire to get out and uncover the secrets of their gardens and outdoor spaces, after the second round of RSPB Big Garden Bird-watch highlighted the importance of gardens to threatened UK wildlife.

Eighty-two per cent of RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch participants in North Yorkshire reported seeing a hedgehog in their garden in the year. But more than half said they had never set eyes on a slow worm or grass snake in their garden.

In excess of 585,000 people across the UK took part in the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch weekend in January, with 72 per cent of them also supplying information about the other garden wildlife they saw in the year. In North Yorkshire, nearly 12,000 people took part.

Daniel Hayhow, RSPB conservation scientist, said: “A lot of garden wildlife is in desperate need of our help. By providing shelter and a safe place to make a home, gardens provide an invaluable resource and are a key element in helping to save nature, perhaps even playing a pivotal role in reversing some declines.

“The RSPB is encouraging people across the UK to make the most of the spring weather and to go out and explore their garden or outdoor space to uncover the wildlife that is living there. In a few years’ time we’ll be able to show any changes in the distribution of garden wildlife using this data.”

For the first time, Big Garden Birdwatch participants were asked to keep an eye out for slow worms and grass snakes in their gardens. These secretive reptiles are often found in compost heaps or near a source of water. The results revealed that eight per cent of people nationally spotted a slow worm regularly throughout the year, while only two per cent saw a grass snake.

Daniel said: “Piles of logs, compost heaps and ponds provide ideal warm, sheltered environments for these species to breed, find food and to hibernate. The more people providing these features will increase the habitats available for all reptiles in their gardens.”

For the second year running, grey squirrels remained the most widely-spotted non-bird visitor, with 65 per cent of participants in North Yorkshire spotting one in their garden at least once a month. At the other end of the scale, the grey’s native relative, the red squirrel, continued to struggle and was one of the least-seen species – with less than one per cent of participants in North Yorkshire seeing one on a monthly basis.

Hedgehogs remained a popular garden visitor for the second year running. More than 65 per cent of people nationally saw one in their garden, though populations have declined by 30 per cent since 2003. Badgers were spotted by twice as many people living in rural areas than those living in suburban or urban areas. The contrast in sightings between rural and urban areas was mirrored by reports of muntjac and roe deer; about 35 per cent of rural residents saw either species of deer compared to only seven per cent of urban dwellers.

The charity is asking people to provide a place for wildlife in their gardens and outside spaces – either a nest box for birds, pond for frogs and toads or a home for a hedgehog.

Visit rspb.org.uk/homes