Remember hedgehogs this bonfire night!

29th October 2018

Bonfires are central to our remembrance of Guy Fawkes and his failed schemes and a popular night for thousands of us each year.

Unfortunately, piles of wood and refuse are irresistible to hedgehogs looking for a safe place to hide and even to hibernate in over the cold winter.

Safety first!

1)      Wait until the last minute before building your pyre. That won’t give any beasts the opportunity of claiming it as a den. You could pile the material next to the fire-site and then rope in a few hands to re-build the stack in the hours before lighting.

2)      Check the structure thoroughly before setting it alight. This may be difficult with larger constructions. You may find a sleepy ‘hog so have somewhere safe lined up for relocations (e.g. under a dense bush in a garden or a hibernacula).

3)      If you have to build your bonfire in advance, encircle the structure with a vertical perimeter fence of chicken wire to ensure it remains hedgehog free during the days prior to lighting.

If you are on twitter please help to spread the word by using #rememberhedgehogs in your tweets to promote hedgehog safety.

Hedgehog fireworks at Edinburgh HOGmanay