Winter is now truly upon us and there are lots of things that will make a difference to the wildlife in your garden.
Helping frogs in the winter
Male frogs often spend winter in the muddy depths of ponds, breathing through their skin. But if the pond freezes over, gases caused by decaying plant material can get trapped and poison them. Remove debris from ponds now, and float a tennis or golf ball on the surface to prevent ice from sealing it.
Autumn planting for nature
Autumn is the perfect time to plant as trees are dormant and less likely to suffer damage. Native species like holly, hawthorn and rowan are all suited to small spaces and provide vital food and shelter for birds, insects and small mammals through the colder months. Choose carefully and many of the shrubs that help wildlife will also give you amazing colour and depth throughout the winter.
Halloween Pumpkins
Feeding woodland wildlife with leftover Halloween pumpkins might seem helpful and eco-friendly, but it does more harm than good. Pumpkins take a long time to break down and as they rot, they damage delicate woodland ecosystems, attract rats and can be fatal to animals like hedgehogs. There are lots of recipes for pumpkins or you can simply pop them into your compost heap – please don’t leave them out for the wildlife!
Build a bug hotel
As the weather turns cooler, give minibeasts like bees, ladybirds and spiders a safe and cosy space to shelter with a bug hotel. Autumn is a great time to find lots of natural materials for your construction too, including pine cones, dried twigs and fallen leaves. They don’t have to take up much room - try your hand at one of our ideas, from a log pile lodge to a pinecone palace.
Keep bird baths and feeders topped up
As temperatures plummet, birds use a lot of energy to keep warm and food becomes difficult to find. Putting out nuts, seeds and other energy-rich food can be a welcome extra meal in leaner times. Bird baths can be a lifeline too when other water sources may have frozen over - help keep yours ice-free by floating a small ball on the surface to disturb the formation of ice sheets.
Hedgehog Hotel
If you’ve got hedgehogs in your garden, you can help them survive the winter by providing a hedgehog hotel. There are lots of instructions on line for making them or you can buy ready-made ones which you decorate and put in your garden. Even if you haven’t seen any hedgehogs, you might find a safe place to hibernate will draw them into your garden!
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