Safer spaces for wildlife
ANY REAL Christmas trees can be repurposed in January to make a safe haven for wildlife in gardens.
In an effort to encourage sustainability, the garden centre Dobbies has announced some tips.
Dobbies’ Horticultural Director, Marcus Eyles said: “Choosing a real tree is one of the most-loved Christmas traditions, and we want to encourage people in Edinburgh to be mindful of how they can recycle their cut real trees once the festivities are over.
“Cut real Christmas trees can be a great tool when it comes to creating a safe place for wildlife to shelter during the winter months, so we’re delighted to show people how they can make use of their trees once the Christmas decorations have come down.”
Fay Vass, Chief Executive of British Hedgehog Preservation Society said: “We’re delighted that Dobbies are shining a light on ways in which people can create a safe space for hedgehogs and other wildlife in their gardens. Hedgehog numbers are in decline, and they have recently been added to the UK Red List as a species that is vulnerable to extinction. We all need to play our part in improving their habitat and we hope people will take advantage of these tips to help create a safe place for wildlife in their gardens.”
Marcus outlined ways that a real cut tree can be reused in the New Year:
• Remove the tree from your house carefully to stop any loose needles from dropping. Marcus recommends wearing thick gloves to protect your hands.
• Using a good quality pair of secateurs, starting from the top remove each branch as close as possible to the main stem.
• Stack the branches together four or five pieces high and place onto soil or leaves under large shrubs, trees or hedges.
• Repeat this process until all the branches are used. This will provide a great shelter for small animals and insects to protect them from the worst of the winter weather. Marcus points out that the needles and branches will breakdown over time to produce organic matter than will enrich the soil.
• For the main trunk of the tree use a pruning saw to cut into 30cm lengths, which can then be stacked to make a mini log pile which is a great habitat for wildlife to shelter in.