Started planting my garden only this year for wildlife - recently moved and only shrubs before - was a little worried about wildlife but after a slow start I have more species of bee than I have ever known, dragonflies, butterflies, slow worms, hornet - just one, birds galore. I know we have a owl somewhere nearby, a fox, bats and a hedgehog. Amazing in an urban area and plan to encourage more next year. The photo's are brilliant, now I need to do some of my own. Thanks.
Hi Guys, the hoggy visitors very rarely eat the slugs in my garden, they prefer the insects and worms. I had a rescue hog recently who was suffering with lungworm after eating slugs which is why i prefer to put food out for them.
The feedbox at the side of my hogbox does usually have a piece of broken paving slab on the top to keep it weighted down, as such i have not had any incidents of it being disturbed or upturned by a fox.
Im very lucky to have a wild hoggy population on common land at the back of my house which is why i get so many visiting There are several areas along my fence where the soil has been moved to create a gap so they can enter/exit as they wish, plus i have a hole cut in a corner where my cat likes to go out exploring.
I currently have 3 juveniles who are in hutches in my shed, these were rescued at a very young age and i am fostering them until they reach 650g (ideal weight pre hibernation). One called Luna is ready for release as soon as we get a break in the wet weather, there will be another homemade hogbox ready for her when she goes so she can choose to stay or go
Daintiness, if you have a fox visiting your garden the best way to protect the feedstation is by creating something only a hoggy can access. If you site it alongside your fence as this is the common route for hoggies to take when they venture into your garden. Have it so that it faces the fence with a small gap of aprox 5" between the entrance and the fence. In addition, place something heavy on the top to stop it being upturned.
A good solid idea is to use 4 bricks as a support for a small paving stone, the bricks are the ideal height to deter cats etc from reaching under it yet the gap is big enough for hoggies. The only issue is that you will need to lift the flag daily to replace the food and clean any leftovers.
Also remember to include a supply of fresh drinking water (this doesnt need to go in the feedstation).
love the pictures of the hoggies kitekat.. we had one a few years back but not visited for a long time.. think something got him or just moved on.
and we have a badger set somewhere on the cliff or railway line.. have put out food for them and they are getting rather used to us now.. cant relly get a picture as the flash scares the life out of them.. so am looking for other ways to get one.. they are beautiful creatures up close but do make a mess in my garden but wouldnt have it any other way.. it is only back lawn the mess up so not to worried as the kids use it as a play ground anyway.
Last year was terrible as one was left dead on the railway line for months before being moved.. allthe kids could see it as they walked to school no nice.
"The mushroom is similar to numerous toxic species so harvesting them is problematic. It has been advised by Memento des champignons not to collect specimens by roadsides."
It could well be one of the 'numerous similar toxic species'.
Macrolepiota excoriata is said to grow on soil in pasture, which does match the situation shown in the photo. Many fungi are associated with trees, but not that one.
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That's a lovely collection of hedgehog pictures. I wouldn't be able to tell one individual from another.
I expect they all come for the regular tasty dinner, and a dry hobbit hole.
Started planting my garden only this year for wildlife - recently moved and only shrubs before - was a little worried about wildlife but after a slow start I have more species of bee than I have ever known, dragonflies, butterflies, slow worms, hornet - just one, birds galore. I know we have a owl somewhere nearby, a fox, bats and a hedgehog. Amazing in an urban area and plan to encourage more next year. The photo's are brilliant, now I need to do some of my own. Thanks.
Hi Kitekat - loved those pics of your cute hedgehogs. I bet they don't eat many slugs though with all that great food you give them
Hi Guys, the hoggy visitors very rarely eat the slugs in my garden, they prefer the insects and worms. I had a rescue hog recently who was suffering with lungworm after eating slugs which is why i prefer to put food out for them.
The feedbox at the side of my hogbox does usually have a piece of broken paving slab on the top to keep it weighted down, as such i have not had any incidents of it being disturbed or upturned by a fox.
Im very lucky to have a wild hoggy population on common land at the back of my house which is why i get so many visiting
There are several areas along my fence where the soil has been moved to create a gap so they can enter/exit as they wish, plus i have a hole cut in a corner where my cat likes to go out exploring.
I currently have 3 juveniles who are in hutches in my shed, these were rescued at a very young age and i am fostering them until they reach 650g (ideal weight pre hibernation). One called Luna is ready for release as soon as we get a break in the wet weather, there will be another homemade hogbox ready for her when she goes so she can choose to stay or go
Daintiness, if you have a fox visiting your garden the best way to protect the feedstation is by creating something only a hoggy can access. If you site it alongside your fence as this is the common route for hoggies to take when they venture into your garden. Have it so that it faces the fence with a small gap of aprox 5" between the entrance and the fence. In addition, place something heavy on the top to stop it being upturned.
A good solid idea is to use 4 bricks as a support for a small paving stone, the bricks are the ideal height to deter cats etc from reaching under it yet the gap is big enough for hoggies. The only issue is that you will need to lift the flag daily to replace the food and clean any leftovers.
Also remember to include a supply of fresh drinking water (this doesnt need to go in the feedstation).
love the pictures of the hoggies kitekat.. we had one a few years back but not visited for a long time.. think something got him or just moved on.
and we have a badger set somewhere on the cliff or railway line.. have put out food for them and they are getting rather used to us now.. cant relly get a picture as the flash scares the life out of them.. so am looking for other ways to get one.. they are beautiful creatures up close but do make a mess in my garden
but wouldnt have it any other way.. it is only back lawn the mess up so not to worried as the kids use it as a play ground anyway.
Last year was terrible as one was left dead on the railway line for months before being moved.. allthe kids could see it as they walked to school no nice.
Gatekeeper butterfly sunning itself.
Female Great spotted woodpecker feeding in my garden.
First wildlife pictures I can share that I have taken with my NEW (at long last) camera.
I saw this in a field and thought better not eat that,I don't know what type it is but there were lots scattered about
It looks a bit like one called Macrolepiota excoriata. But don't count on it. This is that one:
http://www.google.co.uk/search?num=10&hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1048&bih=653&q=Macrolepiota+excoriata&oq=Macrolepiota+excoriata
"The mushroom is similar to numerous toxic species so harvesting them is problematic. It has been advised by Memento des champignons not to collect specimens by roadsides."
It could well be one of the 'numerous similar toxic species'.
Macrolepiota excoriata is said to grow on soil in pasture, which does match the situation shown in the photo. Many fungi are associated with trees, but not that one.