Remember remember garden wildlife

Hedgehogs will be hibernating for the winter too

Spare a thought for wildlife if you build a bonfire this week.

As you gather your logs and leaves, be careful where you pile them as you could give garden birds and other wildlife a nasty surprise.

The RSPB is asking Guy Fawke's night revellers to make sure their bonfires aren't sited too close trees, shrubs, or nest boxes.

As well as being a good tip for safety purposes, it will help minimise any disturbance to wildlife.

Now the weather has changed, birds will be returning to gardens for food provided by plants and shrubs as well as the seed and leftovers we put out.

At night-time in particular they are likely to be roosting in trees and bushes and the RSPB is also asking anyone planning a bonfire or fireworks display in their garden to avoid doing it too close to nest boxes.

Roosting sites

Although the nesting period is over and young birds have all flown from nest boxes, many birds will be searching for suitable roosting sites for winter and could return to nest boxes for shelter from the cold.

RSPB Wildlife Adviser Ian Hayward says: "Thankfully, birds aren't known to suffer any physical ill-effects from fireworks and bonfire displays but of course they would be unsettling if they took place right next to where birds roost.

A hedgehog's favourite place to hibernate is a cosy pile of leaves or logs RSPB Wildlife Adviser Ian Hayward

"We'd ask everyone to consider wildlife when they decide where to build their bonfires and let off their fireworks, and if they know they have birds roosting, avoid that area.

"Many birds will return to the same roosting site year on year, so if you're unsure, there's a good chance if you saw some last year they will be back!"

As well as birds, hedgehogs will be hibernating for the winter too, and piles of logs and leaves are favourite spots.

Carefully check for any prickly residents by gently removing the top layer of leaves and twigs as hedgehogs will usually be buried right at the bottom.

Wildlife stack

If you do find one, try to find an alternative bonfire site, or carefully move the hedgehog to another similar shelter.

Ian says: "A hedgehog's favourite place to hibernate is a cosy pile of leaves or logs so bear this in mind if you're planning to burn a pile that you've been creating for a while.

"And even if you've only been adding to it for a few days in the run up to bonfire night, be aware that a hedgehog could have crept in for its slumber very recently."

And we can continue helping wildlife after bonfire night.

The RSPB suggests leaving any unused logs, twigs or leaves piled up in a corner of the garden as a wildlife stack for hedgehogs, insects, frogs and toads.

Ian added, "Log piles can act as shelter for all sorts of garden wildlife. Items that are hollow or have small holes and crevices to crawl into will be particularly welcome, so wood not burned on a bonfire will be ideal."