Bonfire night can be such an exciting time for family and friends as we venture out into the night to enjoy hot chocolate, tasty food, and a spectacular fireworks display. While we encourage you to keep warm and safe, we also ask you to spare a thought for the wildlife who have to overcome more dangers to survive the evening. We've put together a handy checklist on how to be wildlife-safe on bonfire night so you can still enjoy the fireworks without endangering your wild birds or hedgehogs.

1. Choose the best spot for your bonfire

Site your wood pile in the most spacious area, away from trees, shrubs and nest boxes. This is to avoid disturbing the sleeping garden birds and wildlife, who may not return to their nesting spot if scared away.

2. Be careful when gathering logs and leaves 

In these colder months, food and shelter can mean the difference between life and death for your garden wildlife. Wild birds, frogs, house mice, insects, and more all love to take refuge and forage in your garden shrubs and foliage. You may be as startled as they are if you come across them while finding bonfire material. It's best to leave the wildlife undisturbed as much as possible, and if you see any around logs and leaves, don't move them.

3. Set off fireworks away from sleeping wildlife

Igniting fireworks close to nesting sites can understandably scare the wildlife. To minimise any disturbance to innocent birds and hedgehogs, it's best to avoid launching rockets and other loud explosives near areas highly populated with animals and insects. Trees, hedgerows, and large ponds are all areas wildlife thrives, so avoid these places.

4. Build your bonfire on the 5th of November

Hedgehogs can't resist a good pile of leaves to huddle in, and they may mistake your bonfire for a cosy home. So by building your bonfire on the day of Guy Fawkes Night, your local hedgehogs will already be sleeping somewhere else as they're nocturnal animals. If you build your bonfire a few days before you light it, give it a good inspection occasionally to make sure Hedgehogs and any other garden animals haven't crawled in. 

5. Recycle your bonfire

Any unused logs, twigs and leaves that weren't used in the bonfire can make excellent habitats for wildlife, such as hedgehogs, insects, frogs, birds and much more! Just pile the leftover up in a quiet location in your garden, and nature will soon call it home. You can even make an insect hotel!