Making Hedgehog and Sloworm sanctuaries

Anyone who keeps a compost heap is well aware that this warm dark place not only serves as fermentation bed for producing rich black organic compost but it provides a welcome shelter and  a handy incubated hideaway for Hedgehogs, sloworms, grass snakes, field mice and a host of other garden creatures.

You will also be aware that if the compost heap does become an occupied space then utilising the compost, if you have a conscience becomes almost impossible.

The best solution is to set a side a small area - at the back of a shrub border is best - to tip all of your spare grass clippings, leaves and weeds so that the sloworms and hedgehogs can hideaway here without the fear of being disturbed.

You might also want to lay a piece of old board or carpet in a corner set on four housebricks so that toads can get underneath. That way the toads can then be able to live and breed while they hop around the garden and eat the slugs and snails.

If you are handy with a saw and a hammer then you might want to construct this more extensive Hedgehog detached house.