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Bonfire night and Halloween are fast approaching.

But as much as we love to celebrate on cool, crisp nights gathered around a warm bonfire, it's important to take the time to construct bonfires responsibly - making sure to not put any creatures seeking refuge within them at risk. One species it's important to think about at this time of year is the hedgehog. Numbers are falling - with perhaps fewer than one million hogs left in the UK, sobering compared to the in the 1950s. There are a wide range of threats leading to their struggle for survival but you can help by making some simple changes at home in your garden.  

How can I help hedgehogs? 

• Access! That's the number one thing you can do to help. A simple CD-sized hole in your fence or boundary gives them
• Water. Shallow bowls of water are useful for many birds and mammals, particularly hedgehogs and especially when it's dry or very cold. Never give them milk - hogs are lactose intolerant. 
• . Wet cat food can work a treat but even better, garden with their natural food types in mind and avoid pesticides where you can. 
• Be messy! Finally, an excuse to do less in the garden this autumn! Piles of leaves and logs provide both habitat, shelter and food. have some excellent ideas. 
• With as little as half a million left, charting their whereabouts is vital. 

Where should I look for hedgehogs? 

Hedgehogs will slowly begin to gather nest building material, including dry leaves, grasses and other vegetation and will find a suitable, cosy, quiet area to hibernate towards the end of autumn.

Favourite sites include:

- Under hedges and roots of trees

- In piles of leaf litter

- Inside compost heaps

- Underneath timber buildings and sheds

With this in mind, it's easy to see how a hedgehog would find a compact mound of warm, decaying leaf litter and rotten wood, a perfect site for hibernation. 

What can I do to help them? 

1. Always construct your bonfires on the day they are to be lit - this will not only save wildlife from a painful death, but it’ll also stop the bonfire from getting soaked through in the rain!

2. Don't build bonfires over leaf litter, use bare ground instead.

3. If you have already built your bonfire ensure that you take the time to check over the different sections of the bonfire using a broom pole, not a fork or spade as this could injure any wildlife taking refuge.

4. Use a torch to search through the debris and listen out for a hissing sound - this is the noise a hedgehog makes when they’re disturbed.

5. If you do find a hedgehog and it’s nest grab a pair of gloves, pick it up with as much nest material as possible and place it in a high sided cardboard box with plenty of newspaper and relocate to a safe and suitable location - far away from any bonfire/fire-lighting areas or wait until the festivities are over and dampen down the fire site with water. Release the hedgehog under a bush or log pile to ensure its safety.