At this time of year, many species of UK wildlife are storing up provisions for the colder months and preparing to hibernate, but the approach of Bonfire Night could spell danger for these garden visitors, particularly hedgehogs.
These prickly creatures are beginning to collect bracken, leaves, grass and straw to build their nests in places that are out of harm's way, including under hedgerows and fallen logs – and our gardens tend to be perfect havens for hedgehogs with their natural nooks and crannies, and piles of leaves or foliage.
The British Hedgehog Preservation Society (BHPS) is urging you to think about wildlife if you are having a firework party, suggesting that bonfires should not be built until the day they are to be lit. This means that it will not only save wildlife from burning but will also stop the bonfire from getting wet should it rain the night before.
Bonfire advice
Fay Vass, chief executive of the BHPS, says: "If material is stored on open ground in advance of having a bonfire, it's crucial to dismantle it and move it to another spot just before lighting. Ensure it's moved to clear ground – never on top of a pile of leaves, as there could be a hedgehog underneath, and not too close to pampas grass, which can ignite very easily and is another favourite spot for hedgehogs to hide under."
- Bonfires should not be built until the day they are to be lit
- Ensure bonfires are built on clear ground, never on top of a pile of leaves
- Ensure bonfires are not too close to pampas grass, a favourite hedgehogs hiding place
- Go to an official organised fireworks display as opposed to making your own (this better for the environment too)
- If a bonfire has to be built in advance, protect it by putting some chicken wire one metre high all the way around the bottom
It's always a much safer option to go to an official organised fireworks display, but if a large bonfire has to be built in advance, protect it while building by putting some chicken wire one metre high all the way around the bottom. This should be held in place with stakes and the wire should slope outwards at an angle to make it difficult to climb, as hedgehogs are good at this. It's a good idea to check that no small animals, including pets, have strayed into the bonfire anyway before lighting, so use a torch to do this, while gently lifting pieces of wood section by section with a pole or broom.
How to encourage hedgehogs into your garden
The BHPS' recent State of Britain's Hedgehogs 2018 report revealed hedgehog numbers are growing in urban areas, but they could be in decline rurally due to intensive farming methods, urbanisation and deaths on roads.
If you'd like to encourage hedgehogs to hibernate in your garden, it's really important to leave any dropped branches or dead plants, especially in corners, and delay the clearing and tidying until the spring. This will help to create a habitat for the creatures and many other species, including bats, slow worms, frogs and toads.
Wood piles and compost heaps also get covered by moss, which attract insects that are part of a hedgehog's daily diet. If you'd prefer to offer your garden visitors a more bespoke hibernating design, the BHPS offers a useful leaflet on its website, showing how to build a hedgehog box, and advises that it should be sited in a quiet spot hidden by ground-covering plants, low shrubs or tree branches.
For free information on hedgehogs, contact the BHPS on 01584 890801 or see the website.
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