The Swaffham Crier Online

Hedgehog Alert

With bonfire night looming, this is a dangerous time for hedgehogs. You can help them by following these simple guidelines, from the Wildlife Trust:

  1. Try and build the bonfire as close to the night as possible so there's less chance of a hedgehog moving in
  2. Make your pile of material next to the bonfire site and re-build the stack before lighting it
  3. Search the bonfire for hibernating creatures using a torch and rake before starting the fire
  4. Move any hedgehogs found to somewhere dry and safe away from the fire (possibly a ready-made hedgehog box)
  5. Before bonfire night make an alternative hedgehog home by raking up grass cuttings or autumn leaves into a pile a safe distance from the fire. Hopefully sleepy hogs will choose to snooze there instead of the bonfire

Lisa Goddard