Caring for Garden Wildlife in Winter – How to Support Birds, Hedgehogs, and More

Winter can be a tough time for the UK’s wildlife. As temperatures drop and natural food sources dwindle, birds, hedgehogs, and other small animals often struggle to find the essentials they need to survive. Fortunately, there’s a lot you can do to help from your own back garden.

By providing food, water, and shelter, you can create a winter haven for wildlife while enjoying the wonderful experience of watching nature thrive. Here’s how to support garden visitors throughout the colder months.

1. Why Garden Wildlife Needs Help in Winter

Winter poses significant challenges for garden wildlife:

• Food Shortages: Natural food like berries, nuts, and insects becomes scarce. Animals must work harder to find enough energy to stay warm and active.
• Freezing Temperatures: Water sources freeze, and animals need sheltered spaces to escape the cold.
• Energy Loss: Cold weather increases energy demands for animals, making access to nutritious food and fresh water critical for survival.

Your garden can play a vital role in providing a lifeline for wildlife during these months. Even small efforts can have a big impact!

2. Feeding Garden Birds

Birds are some of the most frequent garden visitors in winter, and feeding them can make a huge difference:

• Provide High-Energy Foods: Birds need calorie-rich food to keep warm. Offer seeds, suet balls, peanuts, mealworms, and fat blocks. Black sunflower seeds are particularly popular.
• Keep Feeders Clean: Regularly clean bird feeders to prevent the spread of diseases. Use warm water and mild soap.
• Position Feeders Thoughtfully: Place feeders in sheltered spots, away from predators like cats, and close to trees or shrubs for safety.
• Offer Fresh Water: Birds need clean water for drinking and bathing. Break any ice that forms in bird baths and refill regularly.

3. Helping Hedgehogs Survive Winter

Hedgehogs hibernate through the colder months, but they can still wake up searching for food or water. Here’s how you can help:

• Leave Out Food and Water: Place shallow dishes of fresh water and meaty cat food, hedgehog-specific food, or dry biscuits for hedgehogs who wake during hibernation. Avoid milk, as it upsets their stomachs.
• Provide Shelter: Hedgehogs need safe places to hibernate. Leave areas of your garden undisturbed – piles of leaves, logs, or dedicated hedgehog houses make excellent shelters.
• Keep the Garden Safe: Avoid using garden chemicals and check bonfires for hidden hedgehogs before lighting them.

What to Do If You Spot a Hedgehog: If you find an underweight or active hedgehog in winter (especially if it’s during freezing temperatures), contact a local wildlife rescue for advice.

4. Supporting Squirrels and Other Wildlife

Squirrels, foxes, and other small animals are regular winter visitors, and you can help them find the resources they need:

• Feed Squirrels Safely: Offer unsalted peanuts, hazelnuts, or sunflower seeds in dedicated feeders to prevent birds from being disturbed. Avoid processed foods like bread.
• Create Safe Spaces: Piles of logs, leaves, or compost provide shelter for insects and small mammals.
• Don’t Over-Tidy: Leave parts of your garden “wild” to encourage habitats.

5. Providing Water for Wildlife

Finding fresh water is just as important as finding food during winter, especially when ponds and streams freeze over.

• Keep Water Accessible:
  • Use bird baths, shallow dishes, or water bowls.
  • Break any ice that forms, and refill daily with lukewarm water.
• Position Water Carefully: Place water sources in sunny areas to slow freezing and away from busy spots to keep wildlife safe.

Tip: Adding a small stone to water bowls allows insects and small mammals to drink safely.

6. Creating a Wildlife-Friendly Garden

A wildlife-friendly garden doesn’t need to be complicated – it’s about creating safe spaces and leaving nature undisturbed where possible.

• Avoid Chemicals: Skip pesticides and slug pellets, which can harm wildlife and pets.
• Leave Shelter Spots: Don’t clear all your garden debris. Leaves, log piles, and overgrown areas provide homes for insects, mammals, and amphibians.
• Install Homes and Feeders: Add birdhouses, squirrel feeders, and hedgehog shelters to provide year-round support for wildlife.

Even small changes, like planting winter berries or hanging fat balls for birds, will encourage wildlife to visit your garden.

Summing Up

Caring for garden wildlife in winter is a rewarding way to help nature thrive while enjoying visits from feathered and furry friends. By providing food, water, and shelter, you can make a real difference during the colder months.

For everything you need – from bird feeders and hedgehog houses to nutritious food – visit Superpet and browse our range of wildlife essentials. Let’s work together to keep the UK’s wildlife safe this winter!