Island Life Magazine Ltd December 2009/January 2010 | Page 63

COUNTRYSIDE, WILDLIFE & FARMING
hedgehogs they may not be able to survive

life

Old rabbit hutches can also be turned into

hibernation. Juvenile hedgehogs who are not

a hedgehog house. Thoroughly clean out and

able to survive hibernation over-winter can be

disinfect the hutch and make sure it is totally

looked after until spring and then released.

dry before putting anything in it. Some clean

Like any wildlife enthusiast, I love finding

dry straw can be added, not too much as you

wildlife in my garden and still get a thrill

want the hedgehog to do the work and make

finding large warty toads or slippery slow

their home the way they want it. Most hutches

worms when gardening and you don’t have

have a bed area and small run. The door to

to spend lots of money making homes for all

the run could be removed, leaving the other

these creatures. Some habitats are quite easy to

door as that will create a nice cosy bedroom.

make. An old whole paving slab could provide

Then hide the hutch in a sheltered spot in

a hibernation site for amphibians. Scoop out

your garden facing away of the preverbal

some earth under the centre of the slab and

winds. Then it’s simply a case of sitting back

make a tunnel to the outside of it so the slab

and waiting for a prickly friend to take up

ends up hiding a cave with a secret entrance.

residence.
How about making a New Years
Resolution: to make your garden more
wildlife friendly:
* Put up a bird or bat box
* Get a bird table or bird bath
* Build a woodpile or compost heap
* Make a wildlife pond
* Plant fruiting shrubs that provide
fdfood
* Plant trees or wild flowers
* Whatever you decide to do enjoy
fdyour garden and help our wildlife.

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