Build a garden pond (https://youtu.be/NPwEvxYhfSg)
Create a wildlife pond
Wildlife gardening in December
Sparrows in bird bath by Chris Speller
Community Wildlife Officer Barbara Polonara shares some ideas about what to do in your garden for wildlife this month.
Pond-ering thoughts
There is never a best time to clean a wildlife pond, as they should be left untouched to preserve their balanced ecosystem. However, sometimes an excessive leaf or debris build up will require some maintenance to promote oxygenation. December and January are the months when this should be contemplated, to limit the impact to wildlife.
Debris should be left to decant in a bucket filled with water to check for any living creatures; pay special attention to newt eggs or larvae which might hide in the murky bits and in curled up foliage, as well as checking for other hibernating amphibians. Always fill up a pond with rainwater, as tap water contains chemicals which can be harmful to wildlife.
Christmas Tree Sale
The most wonderful time of the year!
Looking for responsibly sourced Christmas trees? Head over to our Christmas Tree sale, run by our fabulous volunteers at the beginning of December! The trees are carefully sourced at our BBOWT reserves as part of our management plan. Have a look at the Christmas events page our website for locations and dates.
Sleep tight, hedgehogs!
Many hedgehogs are hibernating around now, having reached a minimum weight, though many do not hibernate at all and will still visit feeding stations throughout winter. They will then re-emerge around March when the weather get warmer and temperatures go above 5° Celsius. Leave some cat biscuits in your feeding station throughout winter to provide occasional snacks - and check regularly to make sure they have not gone off.
(C) CherriesJD on Getty Images
Cut it back
Now is the time! Pruning is best done in winter when trees are dormant, to prevent them from suffering from stunted growth in spring.
Sparrows in bird bath by Chris Speller
Don’t forget water for wildlife
Water is still an important and crucial addition in winter. Leave several dishes at different levels including on the ground; to prevent water from freezing, use a ping pong ball and let it float on the surface. Birds still need to bathe in order to keep their feathers in optimal condition.