Colder months are coming and as we head into winter it can be a tough time for wildlife. Food becomes scarcer and species that hibernate are busy looking for a place to shelter. The good news is there are plenty of small things you can do in your very own garden to help wildlife through this autumn and winter.
Firstly, if you find yourself doing a bit of gardening don’t throw away your cut-offs. Instead use them to make a woodpile for wildlife. This will help sleepier species who are looking for a cosy place to ride out winter, such as newts and plenty of insects.
Why not also consider planting a tree or some spring flowering bulbs? One flowering fruit tree can create an entire ecosystem, and planting bulbs that are good for pollinators, such as bluebells, will ensure your garden will be buzzing when springtime rolls around.
If you have space in your garden, autumn is a great time to introduce a water feature. Amphibians like newts, frogs and toads use water as shelter, butterflies get valuable minerals and salts from muddy water, and birds can bathe and remove parasites. Just make sure to keep topping the water up during chilly winter months as it may become frozen over.
If you are not green fingered, keeping a messy garden is actually good for wildlife! Piles of leaves are the perfect hiding spots for insects and hedgehogs to hibernate and leaving fallen fruit means there is something to munch on.
It’s that special time of year when the leaves start to turn and create dazzling displays of colour. There are plenty of places to visit to appreciate the autumn colours but one of our favourites places to visit at this time of year is Cabilla and Redrice Woods; one of the largest and finest ancient woodlands found in Cornwall. With 77 hectares to explore and a public footpath forming a circular walking route around the woods, this is a lovely and peaceful place to visit.
Managed by Cornwall Wildlife Trust, Cabilla and Redrice Woods has both veteran oak trees, which are aged around 150-300 years old, and ancient oak trees, which are over 400 years old. You are guaranteed to be walking amongst a glorious landscape of reds, oranges, yellows, and browns.
It’s the time of year where many of our wild animals are preparing for hibernation, including our much-loved hedgehogs. These small creatures are mostly nocturnal, and you may be able to spot them rustling around in your garden at night.
Sadly, many hedgehogs decide to take up shelter in cosy looking woodpiles without realising they have been made for bonfires. They are often un-checked before being lit and many hedgehogs have been killed as a result. To make your bonfire safe, make sure to build it on the day you light it and check the entire pile for hedgehogs before setting it on fire. You can also place chicken wire around the bonfire while building it to prevent any hedgehogs from taking up residence.
To find out more or volunteer with ‘Operation Hedgehog’, a county-wide effort to save hedgehogs and reverse the rapid decline in their population, go to cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/wildlife-explorer/mammals/european-hedgehog
