If you want to give your garden birds and hedgehogs a helping hand this winter, wildlife experts are urging gardeners to leave tennis balls scattered on their lawns - no, they haven't lost the plot.
If you have a wildlife gardenknow the benefits it can have for you, from providing natural pest control to creating a balanced garden ecosystem. But these benefits also come with a responsibility protect the wildlife in the garden in winter.
Birds and hedgehogs are two species that need your help when temperatures drop. And sprinkling tennis balls around your yard can help them keep themselves stable in icy conditions. Here's how.
'Scattering tennis balls in your garden can benefit birds and hedgehogs as it gives them a stable surface during icy and wintry weather. The bright color of tennis balls gives birds an obvious place to land, and their fluffy surface acts as a non-slip surface for them to perch on. Hedgehogs can struggle to reach food when paths are slippery, so they can use the tennis balls to stabilize themselves when it's freezing," explains Richard Barker, a horticultural expert and commercial director of LBS Horticulture.
If you have committed yourself to it attract birdWhen you visit your garden, you can expect to see a few feathered visitors even in winter. A tennis ball can help them navigate and provide a safe landing spot, keeping them safe.
They are also great for making a garden hedgehog friendlyas it not only helps them navigate icy paths but also provides shelter.
'Tennis balls can act as small shelters, providing small birds and hedgehogs with additional refuge from predators and harsh weather. They also create small areas where insects like to gather, such as between the ball and the damp soil, making them perfect snack hotspots for wildlife," says James Ewens, wildlife and garden expert at Green feathers.
Although you can spread tennis balls wherever you like (or wherever the dog leaves them) for best results, it's ideal to place them in areas where you know wildlife congregates.
'If you have a birdbath, table or feeder, place a few tennis balls around these areas. If it has snowed, you should be able to see small imprints in the snow, and these can be used as an indicator of where to place the tennis balls," says Richards.
'For hedgehogs, look at where they like to hide in your garden, for example near thick bushes or under a shed, and place the balls around these places. How much to place will depend on the size of your garden, but try placing a few tennis balls in key areas.'
James also recommends placing the balls next to your hedge, fence and garden hedgehog highways.
'Tennis balls in the garden are a simple, effortless way to add something extra habitat for your garden. While it won't replace good nesting boxes or hedgehog houses, it will provide extra cover, encourage insects and help make your outdoor space a little more pet-friendly," says James.
In addition to leaving out tennis balls, make sure you take other steps such as feeding birds in winterand leaving piles of leaves where insects and hedgerows can nest. It is also important to check that the balls you are using are also in good condition.
'Check that the balls you use are clean and won't break into small pieces that could be swallowed by animals,' says Richard.
'You can also use tennis balls in ponds or bird baths to prevent the water from freezing completely. Place a tennis ball in the water in the evening and remove the ball the next morning after the water has frozen, leaving an accessible hole where wildlife can still access water for drinking and bathing."
Give your garden life an extra boost with these winter essentials.
Leaving tennis balls in your yard is an easy, inexpensive way to visit wildlife during the winter months. Even if you think it might not look very neat, your birds and hedgehogs will thank you for it.