Three Things you Can Do to Help the Local Wildlife this Winter

Caring for the planet and our environment is something that we must do as a matter of urgency. Although many countries all over the world need to make big changes there are lots of things that we can do at home as well – the small changes that we make all add up to make a big difference – from using a polystyrene recycling service like this www.printwaste.co.uk/business-recycling-solutions/polystyrene-recycling/ to cycling to work instead of driving, it is amazing how much of a difference we could make if we all put our mind to it.

Something else that is good to do, especially over winter is to support and help the local wildlife. Many of the animals that are native to Britain are quickly declining in numbers, for many reasons and winter is a particularly tough time of the year for wildlife. If you want to help the wildlife in your area this winter, here are a few things that you can do …

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Set up a Feeding Station – Food is scarce for many animals in the winter months, so this is a great time to set up a feeding area for your local wildlife. You may well attract a lot of creatures to your garden! Birds are great to feed – they are fun to watch as they all flock to a bird table and a bird feeding station is easy to set up. Providing food such as nuts, seeds and fat balls will attract a lot of different bird species, and maybe some squirrels too. Don’t forget to provide clean water every day for drinking and bathing in, especially when the temperatures are below zero and many of the birds usual water supplies are frozen solid.

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Clean up Litter – Litter is a big problem for wildlife. Not only is it something that looks unsightly to us, it is a danger to many animals that live in the local area. Going out and looking for litter to pick up regularly in your area is a good way to help protect the environment – and you will probably be amazed at how much you collect! Not only is litter a danger to wild animals, it also poses a threat to our pets, and animals like dogs and cats can be seriously injured by things like tin cans and broken glass that has been dumped in places that it shouldn’t be.

Provide Places to Shelter from the Weather – Animals need to take refuge from the worst of the weather just as we do and many hibernate through the winter. If you have lots of leaves that have fallen from the trees onto your garden, sweep them into large clumps and put them in a secluded spot around your garden. This provides a good place for animals to hide in – from hedgehogs to frogs and toads, to slow worms, a leaf pile is a favourite! You can also buy or make bee and bug houses to provide a safe haven for many invertebrates over the winter months.