Kids special: Autumn means new wildlife - here's how to build a wildlife friendly farm for visiting creatures

Farmers Guardian's new monthly children's special is here, and it is all about nature this season

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Hedgehogs are in decline. Make your garden and farm creature friendly this autumn
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Hedgehogs are in decline. Make your garden and farm creature friendly this autumn

Autumn has arrived, and with a new season comes new wildlife. Get outside and make your garden and farm as wildlife friendly as possible with these top tips.

In autumn watch out for:

  • Hedgehogs
  • Barn owls
  • Dormouse

Make yourself a checklist and let us know what you see.

See also: Growing vegetables with children - how to start and what to grow

Have a wildlife friendly farm

Create a haven for wildlife in your garden or farm by making homemade birdfeeders and hedgehog houses.

Birdfeeder

You will need:

  • Peanut butter
  • An apple
  • Birdseed mix
  • Twine or string
  • To make:

Halve the apple and scoop the core out

Make a small hole in the top of each so you can add the string through

Fill the each half with a mixture of peanut butter and birdseed

Hang outside

Hedgehog house

You can make a very simple hedgehog house by getting a large plastic container and cutting out a large entrance space. Cover in plastic sheeting and camouflage in leaves, soil and grass cuttings. Make the inside hedgehog friendly too, by adding leaves and soil inside.

TOP TIP: leave a stick by the entrance, and if it moves you will know you have had a prickly visitor!

Please send you pictures of your wildlife creations to [email protected]

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