A Practical Guide to Caring for Winter Wildlife

Explore simple ways to support UK wildlife and turn your garden into a safe winter haven.

As temperatures drop across the UK, wildlife enters one of the toughest periods of the year. Many creatures, from insects to hedgehogs, hibernate to survive the cold, while birds remain active, searching for food. At Earnshaws, we stock a wide range of winter wildlife products to help you create a safe, nourishing garden habitat.

HELPING HEDGEHOGS THROUGH HIBERNATION

Winter is peak hibernation season, but our spiky friends are becoming increasingly endangered. Small changes in your garden can make a huge difference and help them survive cold snaps.

• Create a log pile – A shaded log pile is a natural shelter for insects, providing an ideal foraging and hibernation space for hedgehogs.

• Add variety to your garden – Mixed shrubs, trees and plants create long-term food sources and safe hiding spots.

• Add a hedgehog home – One of the best ways to help! Place it somewhere quiet, sheltered and undisturbed. We stock a range of hedgehog houses, perfect for winter hibernation.

• Make a compost heap – Worms, slugs and earwigs thrive here—prime hedgehog food. Build directly on soil so wildlife can access it easily. Avoid disturbing once built, as compost heaps may be used for hibernation.

FEED THE BIRDS

Food and water become scarce during frosty spells, making winter the most critical time to support the UK’s bird population.

• Clean bird boxes – Winter is the ideal time to sterilise bird boxes, ready for spring nesting.

• Keep feeders topped up – Offer a mix of seeds, suet and nuts in sheltered areas close to trees or shrubs.

• Monitor water sources – Check bird baths and ponds daily to prevent freezing.

• Plant berry-producing shrubs – Winter berries offer essential calories.

• Create log and leaf piles – Birds love foraging here for insects.

• Use tree trunks creatively – Rubbing fat into bark helps species like treecreepers and goldcrests.

• Save shedding dog hair – Use it as nesting material by placing it into a nesting material dispenser. These can be made from old peanut feeders.

Birdcare essentials:

• Timber bird tables
• Bird boxes
• Feeders
• RSPB-approved feed and suet products

MAKE YOUR GARDEN A HAVEN FOR INSECTS

Even the smallest creatures play a vital role in your garden ecosystem. By providing food, shelter, and safe overwintering sites, you can help insects survive the colder months.

• Build insect hotels or bug habitats – Hollow stems, drilled wood blocks, and bundles of straw or bamboo provide shelter for solitary bees, ladybirds, and lacewings. If you’d prefer something ready-made, we stock a range of insect hotels to help you get started.

• Leave dead plant stems and leaf litter – Many insects overwinter in hollow stems or under decaying leaves. Avoid clearing all garden debris during winter.

• Plant winter-flowering plants – Species like hellebores, ivy, and winter honeysuckle provide nectar and pollen for late-season pollinators.

• Create microhabitats – Piles of bark, stones, or moss give insects shelter from wind and frost.

• Provide damp areas – Small patches of bare soil or shallow dishes of water allow insects to hydrate and support larvae that develop in soil.

By focusing on simple shelters, natural debris, and winter blooms, you can create a thriving insect-friendly space that supports pollination and garden health year-round.

Visit your local Earnshaws Fencing Centre at either Midgley or Brigg to explore our full range of birdcare and wildlife products.