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Red squirrels could be extinct within 20 years, while the UK hedgehog population has dipped to about 1.5m individuals compared with 30m in the 1950s, according to a report by Oxford University’s wildlife conservation unit for the People’s Trust for Endangered Species.

The common dormouse (Muscardinus avellanarius) and mountain hare are also under threat despite efforts to arrest their decline through biodiversity action plans. Seven species of mammals whose conservation was given priority status, including some of the most endangered, were still declining last year, says the report — State of Britain’s Mammals 2011.

But there was good news with regard to otters, bats and water voles, whose populations have increased. After conservation efforts “akin to rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic”, say the report’s authors, there was hope that approaches to conservation were improving.

Seven species of mammals whose conservation was given priority status, including some of the most endangered, were still declining last year, says the repor

“In general, progress has been better for species restricted in range that could benefit from site—based conservation. There’s been less progress on targets for habitats and many widespread species.” Water voles are declining, but brown hare and polecat populations are rising. Greater and lesser horseshoe bat populations have risen 32% and 41% respectively over the past 10 years