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Creating a Cozy Winter Hideaway for Toads
Introduction
Toads are beneficial garden creatures that help control pests like ants, beetles, and slugs. During the winter, they hibernate to survive the cold temperatures. You can help ensure their survival by creating a warm and safe winter hideaway for them.
Materials You’ll Need:
- Garden spade
- Dried autumn leaves
- Stones
- Bricks
- Old plastic lid
Step-by-Step Instructions:
1. Digging the Hole
- Use a garden spade to dig a rectangular hole about a spade’s depth.
- Create a sloping approach to the hole so toads can easily enter and exit.
2. Lining the Hole
- Line the hole and the sloping approach with bricks or tiles to provide drainage.
- Place stones at the top of the bricks at the deepest point of the hole.
3. Adding Insulation
- Collect dried autumn leaves and scatter them over the stones.
- This layer of leaves will provide insulation to keep toads warm during the winter.
4. Covering the Hole
- Place the plastic lid over the top of the stones.
- Place a stone slab directly on top of the plastic lid, leaving a small gap between the slab and the brick slope for toad access.
Tips for Success:
- Choose a location that is cool, damp, and out of reach of predators like cats, crows, and hedgehogs.
- Ensure the hideaway is large enough for multiple toads to hibernate together.
- If you live in an area with heavy snowfall, consider adding a layer of straw or mulch over the plastic lid for extra insulation.
Benefits of Providing a Winter Hideaway for Toads:
- Protection from the cold: Toads need a warm and humid environment to survive hibernation. A winter hideaway provides this essential shelter.
- Increased survival rates: By providing a safe place to hibernate, you can help increase the survival rates of toads in your garden.
- Pest control: Toads are natural pest controllers, so having them in your garden can help reduce insect populations.
- Educational value: Creating a toad hideaway is a fun and educational project for children and adults alike. It’s a great way to learn about the importance of wildlife conservation.
Additional Autumn Wildlife Jobs:
In addition to creating a winter toad hideaway, here are some other autumn wildlife jobs you can do to help local wildlife:
- Make bird feeders: Fill bird feeders with seeds and suet to provide food for birds during the winter.
- Plant a wildlife hedge: Plant a hedge with native plants that provide food and shelter for wildlife.
- Clean out nest boxes: Remove old nesting material and clean nest boxes to prepare them for nesting birds in the spring.
- Leave out water: Provide a shallow dish of water in your garden for birds and other wildlife to drink from.
- Avoid pruning berry-bearing shrubs: Leave berry-bearing shrubs unpruned so that birds and small mammals can feed on the fruits.
By taking these simple steps, you can help wildlife thrive in your garden all year round.
