Celebrate this November with a Tree Party!
National Tree Week runs from the 23rd to 1st December. Get your family and friends together to plant an indigenous tree or two, prune the ones you already have, hang their branches with autumnal bunting and lanterns and enjoy hot drinks and a wholesome al fresco meal. For ideas and activities go to: https://treecouncil.org.uk/seasonal-campaigns/national-tree-week/
Putting bird food out for our garden visitors can sometimes feel like we’re just feeding the squirrels! There are quite a few cleverly designed squirrel-proof bird feeders on the market so maybe invest in one or two to ensure the songbirds aren’t deprived of essential goodies over the winter months. Love them or hate them, squirrels are smart enough to find nutrition in all sorts of places so you’re not being cruel – just ensuring a fair distribution of resources!
It’s the fireworks soapbox again! They can be fun and beautiful to watch, but they are distressing to most animals and cause all sorts of environmental issues. If you must see them, please go to a community show – they invariably raise money for local charities. At home, make sure your pets are calm and stress free. Snoods are available for dogs, although possibly not ideal getting one on a cat! These gently fold back their ears and act like doggy ear defenders.
November is a good time for a first pruning of shrubs and hedges – you can prune again in February. Sow wildflower seeds in your butterfly garden and plant sweetpeas ready for spring.
Those hedgehogs are going into hibernation so create a nice pile of garden debris, twigs and leaves and then leave well alone while the new residents move in. Leave out meat-based cat or dog food or meaty cat biscuits. Don’t forget to Log Your Hog!
