If you don’t do 7 simple steps this month – animals and your garden will suffer, says wildlife expert

AS the golden hues of October (and a fair bit of rain) grace our gardens - it’s a good month to invite vital wildlife in.

With caterpillar, insect, slug and snail populations dropping off drastically, there’s a lot less food to go round.

And coupled with colder temperatures, the need for shelter, nourishment and water for the remaining bugs, birds, beetles and mammals increases.

Remember we need the wildlife to pollinate, pest control, provide waste management and recycle nutrients in our outside spaces. 

HEDGEHOGS

Hedgehogs control garden pests like caterpillars. Let them in by creating hedgehog highways linking gardens, you can even buy little hedgehog homes and just be careful they’re not hiding in piles of leaves you’re about to burn/grab. Provide water, cat or dog food or cat biscuits to supplement their natural diet. For advice on how to help hedgehogs, visit 

BEES

They’re still about - so make sure you plant some autumn nectar for them. Asters and Verbena Bonariensis are two that also add a splash of colour to your outside space. And despite the temptation, don’t cut back all your ivy - they absolutely love it.

BIRDS

Native species, such as robins, goldfinches and blue tits will be on the hunt for food as days get shorter and colder.

Get some feeders up -filled with high-energy foods such as sunflower seeds, fat balls, and suet cakes. and keep water baths topped up.

It's also a good time to clean or put up new nest boxes for shelter.  Leave seed heads on plants like sunflowers and teasels to provide food.

Kirk Rothwell, from , said: "Autumn brings with it shorter daylight hours and dropping temperatures, which means wild birds
need to work extra hard to find a meal. We want to remind the public that now is the time to really take a little more time to care for our feathered friends.

"Wild birds’ natural food sources deplete in very cold conditions, and some small birds can lose up to 40 per cent of their fat stores in just one cold night. Provide them with high protein, fatty foods to help them build up fat reserves to help survive the winter."

PLANT TREES

The say native species like holly, hawthorn and rowan are all suited to small outside spaces - providing vital food and shelter for birds, insects and small mammals through the colder months.