• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Froglife

Leaping forward for reptiles and amphibians

  • Events
  • Shop
  • Donate
  • Subscribe
  • Sightings
  • Cart
  • About Us
    • Organisational structure
    • Froglife Scotland
    • Staff
    • Trustees
    • Our strategy
    • Our supporters
    • Annual reviews and accounts
    • Job vacancies
    • Contact us
  • What we do
    • Events
    • Education
      • Come Forth for Wildlife
      • Fife Living Waters
      • Transforming Lives: Froglife Trainees
      • Green Pathways
      • Green Pathways for Life
      • Leapfrog Schools
      • London Tails of Amphibian Discovery (T.O.A.D)
      • Yorkshire Tails of Amphibian Discovery (T.O.A.D)
      • Discovering Reptiles
    • Improving habitats
      • Froglife reserves
      • London Blue Chain
      • Coalface to Wildspace, Midlands
      • Discovering Dewponds
      • Come Forth for Wildlife
      • London Tails of Amphibian Discovery (T.O.A.D)
      • Yorkshire Tails of Amphibian Discovery (T.O.A.D)
    • Toads on Roads
    • Campaigns and Policy
    • Research
    • Digital Amphibian and Reptile Conservation
    • Webinars
    • Virtual Reality Experience
  • Froglife Ecological Services
    • About FES
    • Training
    • FES Services
    • Research
    • Survey Calendar
  • Info & advice
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Reptiles and Amphibians
    • Our publications
    • Reports and research
    • Land management
  • Idea Zone
    • Pond Visualiser App
    • Fun and games
    • Education resources
    • Wildlife at home
    • Wildlife gardening
  • Support Us
    • Donate
    • Other Ways to Donate
    • Fundraise for us
    • Become a Froglife Friend
    • Legacies, in memory & celebrations
    • Become a corporate sponsor
    • Volunteer
  • What’s new
    • Events
    • Latest News and Croaks
    • Natterchat Magazine
You are here: Home / Archives for bonfires

bonfires

Remember, Remember the Wildlife this November!

October 28, 2021 by admin

As we do every year, Froglife is reminding people to thoroughly check their bonfires for wildlife before lighting them…

At this time of year, reptiles and amphibians are all looking for somewhere safe and frost-free to see out the winter. A big pile of logs, leaves and twigs may be the ingredients for a perfect bonfire, but they’re also an ideal hiding place for all sorts of other garden inhabitants.

Here are a few tips to help make your celebrations more wildlife-friendly:

  • Collect your wood and other bonfire materials in a separate place to where you’ll be having the bonfire, and move them just before you want to light the fire, ideally as late in the day as possible.  If you’re going to an organised event you could get in touch beforehand and ask if they need any help searching for uninvited guests!
  • If you do come across any animals, just transfer them to a similar habitat in another part of the garden. They may be a little disorientated but the disturbance won’t do them any harm.
  • Just before lighting, have a last check through with a torch and then ensure the fire is only lit from one side so anything left within has the chance to escape.
  • Try to burn only clean, untreated wood on your bonfire, with no nasty varnish, paint or plastics so you don’t release toxic chemicals in the smoke

You could create a permanent log and leaf pile specifically for amphibians, reptiles and other creatures to hide in over winter in a quiet corner of the garden. Other wildlife-friendly features include compost heaps and rockeries. Find out more here.

Don’t forget if you do spot any of our species, use our Dragon Finder App to help identify and record your sightings!

So, have fun this fireworks night but remember what might be buried in your bonfire!

Filed Under: Advice Tagged With: Amphibians, bonfire night, bonfires, fire, Leaves, Logs, reptiles, Twigs, Winter

Footer

  • About Us
  • What we do
  • Info & advice
  • Learning zone
  • Support Us
  • What’s new
  • FAQ
  • Contact us
  • Events
  • Become a Friend
  • Our supporters
  • Privacy Information

Contact us

Froglife (Head Office)
Brightfield Business Hub
Bakewell Road
Peterborough
PE2 6XU
info@froglife.org

© 2023 · Froglife

Froglife is a Campaign title for The Froglife Trust
Registered Charity No. 1093372 (in England and Wales) and SC041854 (in Scotland)
Registered Company No. 4382714 in England and Wales

Paper Rhino logo