NOVEMBER 5th is fast approaching, so we’ll soon hear the booming of fireworks and crackling of bonfires across the country. Taking part in the fiery festivities? Spare a moment to consider our back-garden friend, the hedgehog, whilst having a Bonfire Night to remember.
Hedgehogs are a welcome sight in anyone’s garden — especially given their pest control abilities, eating slugs, snails and other unwelcome insects.
However, hedgehog numbers are in steep decline, having gone from around 30 million to just one million since the 1950s across Wales, Scotland and England.
And at this time of year, hedgehogs see bonfires as the ideal place to shelter from predators as they start thinking about hibernation. After all, the piles are usually made up of all-natural materials, with plenty of nooks and crannies to hide in.
That is why housebuilder, Barratt Developments South Wales, has partnered with the RSPB to help homeowners ensure their gardens are a safe space where creatures, including the hedgehog, can thrive this Bonfire Night and beyond.
Here are 5 easy-to-follow steps to help you ensure your bonfire is as wildlife-safe as possible:
- Avoid building your bonfire in advance
Although it may be easier to build your bonfire in the lead-up to Bonfire Night, it is always best to build the pile on the day you plan to light it. As we approach hibernation season, hedgehogs and other garden wildlife will be drawn to a big pile of logs and leaves as the perfect winter nest.
- Move your bonfire before lighting it
If you do need to build your bonfire in advance of lighting it, try to move it to open ground on the day of lighting. It is important that the ground is open and clear, as leaves could be hiding hedgehogs from plain sight. Moving the bonfire will allow the hedgehogs to escape the pile in plenty of time.
- Place a barrier around the edge of your bonfire
A barrier around the base of the bonfire will help prevent hedgehogs and other animals from getting in. Placing chicken wire — about 1m or higher with small holes — around the base of your bonfire will make it much harder for hedgehogs to get in.
- Check your bonfire for hedgehogs before lighting it
Even if you took the previous precautions, it is always best to manually check your bonfire for hedgehogs and other animals before lighting. Use a long object, such as a broom handle, to gently poke your bonfire and move around the ground leaves. If you hear a hissing sound, then you have probably found an angry hedgehog!
- Light your bonfire from one corner
Now you are ready to light your bonfire, be sure to only light it from one edge, rather than the centre. This allows any hedgehogs or other wildlife that may have gone unseen during your bonfire checks to escape before it reaches all areas of the pile.
Richard Lawson, a Director at Barratt Developments South Wales and lover of the outdoors, added: “The pre-hibernation period is a crucial time for our local wildlife, so we must do everything we can to keep these creatures safe before the cold weather kicks in.
“And beyond the 5th of November, homeowners can help our local animals by keeping their gardens a bit messy over the winter — helping provide cover for hedgehogs when they occasionally wake from hibernation — and by avoiding the use of pesticides.
“Placing a small hole in your fence — around 13cm by 13cm — will also allow them more opportunities to feed and mate. Incredibly, they can travel around 12 miles a night!”
For more inspiration and guidance on how to help your local hedgehogs and other wildlife, please visit the RSPB’s Nature on Your Doorstep: www.rspb.org.uk/NatureOnYourDoorstep
