Bonfires and hedgehog ALERT! Please!

[Nicos]

I just wanted to remind those of you having bonfires....be they for Bonfire Night or whilst burning things on the allotment or garden .....

PLEASE check for hedgehogs underneath...or better still resite the bonfire just before lighting it.
Due to the National decline in hedgehog numbers none of us want to unwittingly BBQ one ...or any wildlife for that matter!


NB. Compost when you can !

[Alison]

Better still don't have bonfires in your lottie, they're horrible smellie things which are antisocial to those in the vicinity.

Re the bonfire night ones, most of the big ones round here were last Saturday and we had the same discussion then.

[Nicos]

Yup!.....just a reminder!

[Knight of Albion]

Excellent thread and a noble sentiment.

Bless you for caring, dear Nicos.

[Nicos]

Last year we nursed two baby hedgehogs to adulthood.
They are so sweet, and a total asset to our gardens and environment.
A moment of thoughtlessness.....

[Knight of Albion]

Last year we nursed two baby hedgehogs to adulthood.
They are so sweet, and a total asset to our gardens and environment.
A moment of thoughtlessness.....

That is so true. The numbers are in decline and the species is very much on the back foot grappling with ever increasing house and road building and changes to farming practices, all of which have led to loss of habitat and diminished sources of food, and putting them in peril from cars, machinery and thoughtless humans.

They are a great benefit to gardeners and help maintain a natural balance in gardens.

[Philthy]

I've never seen a wild hedgehog.. or even one in a wildlife park / zoo now I come to think about it.

What is the best way to encourage them to take up residence?

My neighbours on both sides have dogs; could this be why the hedgehogs struggle to cross to my patch? Are they totally nocturnal creatures? I'm assuming they're in the area - there's woody bits not too far away (within a mile or so).

(Last time I turned over a bonfire heap I disturbed 3 mice. Not sure who got more of a fright)!

[Scarlet]

I've always kept dogs and we've always have hedgehogs. I think they like messy gardens, I leave piles of twigs and leaves around. We occasionally see them late evening during the summer when I'm having a glass of wine. Often just hear them shuffling around but can't spot them. The kids leave a bowl of dog food and water out for them when we've seen or heard them.
Not the best of pics, but here's ours from the Summer

[Knight of Albion]

Lovely! .....

[Martin H]

Nice one!

I remember reading that one of the biggest problems hedgehogs face in suburban settings is garden fences. Too many gardens - like mine! - have got secure fences with those concrete strips at the bottom, no way in and no way out for a hedgehog.

Back in the day when everybody had hedges it was much easier for them to get around and forage.

[Guest]

Are they totally nocturnal creatures? I'm assuming they're in the area - there's woody bits not too far away (within a mile or so).

If you see one in the day, it is bad and usually means its an orphan where I used to live it happened so often and you used to see the adults squished. Not quite sure how so many people managed to hit them in a 30 mph zone. Thankfully the rspca were good where we lived and would take them in or help you to look after them yourself

[Philthy]

..here's ours from the Summer

Wow!

Messy gardens (aka reduced work gardens); I'm sure I can incorporate that notion somewhere...

I've heard of some nasty incidents with hedgehogs being taken in by the RSPCA that are beyond saving and just need to be humanely destroyed. Accidents involving strimmers mainly...

[Nicos]

Strimmers?...yup..it doesn't take long to check small areas does it?...poor things.

Bit like drilling into the mind about 'road safety'... ?

Consequences of events......