Wildlife

We are very lucky to have so much wildlife around us every day and there are many ways in which we can help these animals in their search for food and have great fun in the process. We must not take this for granted though; all wildlife should be respected and treated appropriately. We cannot tame or control wild animals nor should we want to - we can draw great pleasure from simply observing their lives without interfering. This leaflet provides information on some of our most common wildlife and how you can live alongside them, with sections on: Hedgehogs, Badgers, Foxes, Insects, Squirrels, Ducks and Swans.

Your garden

Your garden will determine what kind of wildlife you can attract; most wildlife will not be attracted to a garden where insecticides are commonly in use and where there is little grass and few plants. Trees, hedges and flowering plants provide the two key features necessary in any wild animals’ life: food and shelter. Ponds and compost heaps also provide great benefits for many types of life. Insects and other invertebrates as well as hedgehogs will be attracted to compost heaps as they require shelter when not active. In turn, insects attract birds and other wildlife into the garden. Ponds attract many kinds of aquatic insects and amphibians as well as providing a watering hole for all kinds of wildlife.

Hedgehogs

Hedgehogs are a common visitor in our gardens countrywide. Usually nocturnal, hedgehogs will hunt for food like slugs, earthworms and beetles. It is a common misconception that leaving a saucer of milk and bread is good for hedgehogs; in fact milk and bread can make them ill. A saucer of water is a better option and a plate of hedgehog food or even cat food will be more digestible. Try a regular saucer of ‘Spikes Dinner’ at dusk to attract hedgehogs into your garden, as this specially formulated food is a nutritious and tasty treat. Hedgehogs hibernate from October to March and will often take shelter for the duration in a pile of leaves or a compost heap, so beware when clearing the garden during this time. However, don’t be surprised if you spy a hedgehog from time to time during the winter; they do pop out for a snack every now and again.

DID YOU KNOW: Hedgehogs have about 7000 spikes covering their body!

Badgers

Funny as it may sound, badgers are a member of the weasel family, with their closest relatives being weasels and stoats. Despite this, badgers do not resemble their small cousins and are often around 90cm in length. Although largely nocturnal, during the summer they often wander out in the day, so you may be lucky enough to spot one and may even see some cubs too. Badgers do not hibernate, although in winter they may spend days on end hiding underground in their homes, called ‘setts’. Badger setts are often large labyrinths of tunnels and chambers with anything from 1 to 100 entrances, the average, however is more like 6 so don’t expect to come across a badger city in your local park. Although badgers are rarely seen in more urban areas, they will wander through gardens and across roads, if they are part of their foraging ground (feeding ground), searching for insects, fruits, nuts and bulbs.If you think you have badgers around your area, you could encourage them into your garden with an offering of badger food, peanuts or raisins. If you do attract badgers into your garden do not frighten them or try to catch them. You must keep quiet and avoid switching lights on and off, as this will frighten them off and they may not come back. Badgers are not an endangered species as many people think, as due to their shyness they are not often seen. They are, however, protected by law and therefore have some strict rules surrounding their treatment. The Badger Protection Act prohibits any ill-treatment towards badgers, including capture, damage to setts and injury. So if you witness this be sure to report it to the police to prevent it from continuing.

DID YOU KNOW: Some badgers can live to be 15 yrs old! Although, sadly, an average lifespan is usually about 3 years.

Foxes

You will recognise the fox by its famous bushy tail and red/orange coat. A very adaptable animal, they are almost as common in towns and cities as they are in the countryside, finding lots of tasty leftovers in our rubbish. Active during the night, mainly at dawn and dusk the fox will prey on small animals and birds, feeding its cubs on fruit, berries and worms. In urban areas it is more likely to gain most of its nutrition from raiding dustbins, compost heaps and bird tables. Foxes like to live in large family groups, wherever there is suitable shelter and food sources. Look out for foxes at dusk and leave out a supply of fox food which incorporates all the foods they love: meat, proteins, carbohydrates and fats; a handful should be plenty. Kitchen scraps and meats are a great home made option to attract them into your garden and this might just stop them from raiding your dustbins too. Foxes quickly become quite tame and are fun to watch, especially the cubs as they jump around and play fight.

DID YOU KNOW: Foxes are not much bigger than cats! They are usually about 35cm from ground to shoulder and weigh about 6 kilos. Much smaller than most people think.

Insects

Insects receive a mixed reception. Many people are frightened by their appearance and confused as to their purpose. There are also many people who find insects fascinating, recognise their importance and have learned how to help them. We have a range of insect products in store which are designed to help the insects as well as educating people on how insects live.

Butterflies

These beautiful flying insects are always a welcome
addition to our gardens in the summer and provide an invaluable service to our flowers; by flying from flower to flower feeding on their sweet nectar, butterflies also help pollinate flowers, essential for plant reproduction. Use a butterfly feeder with sugared water to attract them into your garden and observe their beautiful colours while they pollinate your garden.

Bees

provide a service similar to the butterfly. Feeding on the nectar of different flowers, the bee carries sticky pollen on its body from flower to flower. Most bees live in large groups, in hives, rearing their young and making honey, but some bees are solitary creatures, like the mason bee. Mason bees live solitary lives, making nests in single tunnels in wood, cement and even bricks. A wildlife lodge, placed in full sunlight can provide a great nesting spot for these docile and very useful bees.

Lacewings

Feeding on a diet of aphids (greenfly and blackfly), this insect is a great help in the garden as green and blackfly are pests to lots of flowering plants. A wildlife lodge will provide a cosy home for lacewings to roost in the daytime (they fly at night) and a great place to hibernate too. Lacewings are invaluable as a garden insect but are susceptible to perishing over winter and a lodge will keep them alive through the cold.

Ladybirds

Another aphid eater, the ladybird is a great friend to your garden as well as an attractive and colourful insect to have around. Wildlife lodges prove a great home for ladybirds during the night and whilst hibernating too. By accommodating certain insects you can learn to love them, especially when you see what a great job they do for your garden. A wildlife lodge is a great addition to your garden and provides lots of fun for adults and kids alike.

DID YOU KNOW: Although the red 7 spot ladybird is the most common, there are around 42 different species in Britain. All have different spot arrangements to warn off predators, including the yellow ladybird who has 22 spots!

Squirrels

There are two types of squirrel resident in this country: grey and red. The red squirrel is very rare, it is solitary and eats high up in the trees on seeds, berries and fruit. It is also known to feed on insects, birds’ eggs and nestlings. Any extra food offerings will be gladly received by the red squirrel as they battle for food with the larger, dominant grey squirrel. The grey squirrel is bigger than its red cousin and is active through the day, mostly four or five hours after dawn. Like the red, the grey feeds up in the trees but will also often be seen on the ground looking for fungi, bulbs, roots and acorns. Squirrels do not hibernate and survive through the lean months by hoarding food. You can help squirrels by placing squirrel feeders by hedges, bushes and trees, filled with a variety of nuts and seed; they especially like hazelnuts, sunflower seeds and peanuts. Try feeding them a specially formulated squirrel food to distract them from the bird feeders, where they can quickly become a nuisance.

DID YOU KNOW: Squirrels bury food underground so they do not go
hungry over the winter. They will bury lots of food in lots of different
places so if one hoard is found, all is not lost.

Ducks and Swans

Ducks can be found in nearly all sizes of pond as they are small and agile. Swans however, are much larger and need more space, so a small pond is unlikely to have visiting swans. If you live near to a large pond or lake you may like to feed ducks and swans at the waterside. It is always fun to take some bread down to the lake and watch all the birds paddle over to tuck in. We stock special duck and swan food ideal for feeding in this way; it is formed in little, floating nuggets which are tasty and far more nutritious than bread, making it irresistible. Also try sprinkling one of our duck and swan foods on the banks or in the shallows for ducks and a little deeper in the water for swans, and watch them race over to enjoy some tasty treats.

DID YOU KNOW: Swans need a clear runway of at least 20 metres to take off. They
look like they run along the surface of the water before lifting off into the air.

Watching wildlife go about their daily lives can be very rewarding. Enjoy helping them in their hunt for food, but remember, wild animals are wild and we should not change that. If you do feed them, only supplement their natural diet and do not allow the animal to become dependant on your supply.