These dead teasels and long bits of dried and dead grass will be picked over by birds and wildlife for food and nesting materials
All photography TI Media, unless otherwise credited
Be a hedgehog hero. Cut a CD-sized hole in your fence so they can forage without going on roads. Check with your neighbour first, of course!
Wildlife plants They will provide food and shelter
Hedges of native trees provide wildlife with food and shelter Rotting leaves feed soil and shelter invertebrates
Look after wildlife in winter
Alamy
There are several things you can do to help them, says Ruth
Hedgehogs hibernate until late March or April, so if you see one out it may be ill. Wearing gloves, wrap it in a blanket in a box and take it to a hedgehog sanctuary. Call the British Hedgehog Preservation Society 01584 890 801 to find your local one.
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Ponds are an excellent source of drinking water for winter wildlife, so place a couple of balls in the water to prevent it freezing. Never hit ice to try to smash it as the reverberations can stun or kill fish or amphibians hiding in the water.
Keep feeding the birds with quality food, such as that provided by CJ Wildbird Foods, and provide them with clean water. Clean bird tables regularly with weak disinfectant and remove uneaten food that can accumulate diseases and attract vermin.
If you’re having a winter tidy-up of the garden, remember to leave a wild patch untouched. You never know what may be overwintering in it and many of the invertebrates, amphibians and mammals will be allies in the growing season in your fight against pests.
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6 AMATEUR GARDENING 1 FEBRUARY 2020
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As many native wildflowers vanish from the wild, our gardens are becoming havens for insects and the animals that feed on them. We can do our bit for wildlife by growing a range of plants that provide food and shelter for insects and larger creatures all year round. Early flowering plants such as snowdrops crocuses an winter heathers provide the year’s first nectar for insects such as queen An early bee on bumblebee winter heather emerging from hibernation. A large clump of heather also provides shelter for overwintering insects and even hibernating mammals if it’s large enough. When sowing and planting, remember that single-petalled plants are more useful than hybrids, as the pollen and nectar are often more accessible. Try marigolds, sunflowers, daisies, borage, an assortment of herbs and knapweed, and don’t forget the aptly named honeywort (Cerinthe major)! Create a wildflower meadow, either by sowing seeds or dotting wildflower plug plants through the lawn in spring. Native and foreign trees and shrubs are also a useful addition, especially species with flowers and berries. They also provide valuable nesting sites and shelter.
