wildlife Archives - UK Memorials

As we notice the sun setting a little earlier and the wind blow just a bit chillier we begin to get excited to see the trees change from vibrant green to deep orange and cosy nights by the fire. However, for the natural world, these changes signal the need to prepare for the challenging, cold months ahead. At UK Memorials, we believe in lending a hand to nature, helping wildlife find ways to survive the winter more easily.

Hedgehog Homes and Toad Abodes

You may not realise this but hedgehogs actually hibernate over the winter months and it is very important to their survival to find a spot that will keep them warm and safe. In the 1950s is was estimated that there was over 30 million hedgehogs in the UK whereas now they estimate it only be around 1 Million so we really want to make sure to give them a hand this winter. You can purchase a hedgehog box online or you can craft one from scratch. RSPB have an amazing video to guide you how to craft a box which you can watch by clicking here.

Once you have your box you want to fill it with a layer of dead and dry leaves. Hedgehogs prefer small leaves such as birch, oak, hawthorn or hazel. You then want to find a shady, quiet spot where it won’t be disturbed. The entrance should be out of the wind, you want to cover the entire box with woody garden cuttings and leaves but make sure to leave the ventilation pipe clear.

Toads do not hibernate through winter but they do spend a large amount of their time nestled away trying to keep warm. Creating old long stores or even and old pot on its side with lots of leaves in can create a toasty home for toads to stay warm in.

Clear out Bird Boxes

Now that the birds have raised their young they won’t need their bird boxes so now is a great time to clear and clean them out. It is recommended that you take out all the nesting material and disinfect the box. The safest time to do this is during October and November as there won’t be any birds using the boxes during this time. Clearing out the old matter and disinfecting the boxes helps to remove any ticks and fleas, along with their eggs and helps to reduce the risk of diseases such as Avian Influenza.

Feed Nature

Another wonderful thing you can do to help wildlife during the winter months is to provide food and water sources. .

Birds often struggle to find food during the colder months, so adding extra feeders can make a big difference.

Some people also leave food out for foxes, squirrels, and badgers. For squirrels, nuts, chopped apples, and carrots are ideal, while cooked meats are a favorite for foxes and badgers.

Water might be something you would not have to think to provide wildlife in nature, as we are in North Devon we see rather a lot of it through the winter months. But as the months delve into December and January when hard frost might be found, water sources freeze up. We recommend putting fresh water out or breaking holes in the ice for wildlife to drink from.