WITH fireworks night on the horizon, Surrey Wildlife Trust is appealing to all bonfire builders to think about hibernating hedgehogs when constructing and lighting their wood piles.

Unfortunately bonfire night coincides with the season when small mammals are looking for cosy places to hide, which can be disastrous.

“A stack of dry wood and leaves piled up for a bonfire might look to a hedgehog like the perfect place to overwinter and sadly we fear many animals do perish in fires every year,” said Dawn Fielding, the trust’s wildlife gardening officer.

“Gardeners love these adorable prickly creatures, as they eat bugs and slugs and are great for natural pest control. But hedgehogs are undergoing an unprecedented decline, with some experts recently warning of possible extinction within 10 years! So it’s vitally important we all do what we can to protect them.” 

The trust wants bonfire night to be a safe night for all concerned – but especially hedgehogs. So it’s put together these top tips to help protect these prickly visitors:

• Consider piling material near the site of your fire and building your bonfire just before lighting. This will give small creatures less chance to move in.

• Check your bonfire carefully before setting it on fire and remove any small inhabitants - rehome in a safe area away from dogs or cats, such as under a hedge or large bush and well away from your bonfire.

• If you do have to build your bonfire beforehand, consider constructing a fence around it made of chicken wire, to help deter any mammals looking for a cosy home.   

For more information about the trust’s work to help hedgehogs, including Hedgehog Adoptions, Hedgerow Heroes and Hedgehog Hotspots, visit www.surreywildlifetrustorg