Their perfect hibernation heap is both warm and dry, and must remain undisturbed. If you decide to build a hedgehog house, you must ensure it is well ventilated. For a natural-looking heap, use a stack of logs and a thick layer of leaves, but make sure everyone knows this isn't a bonfire waiting to be burned. Keep dead wood Rotten wood is seen by many gardeners as a threat. True, it can be the source of the dreaded honey fungus, Armillaria, but if your garden is managed in a natural way there will be a rich variety of other fungi to keep this pathogen under control.
Honey fungus is present in every British woodland, but it is kept in check naturally.
Conserving dead wood brings many benefits, attracting some of our more spectacular insects. If you have old oak trees in the neighbourhood, you may be lucky enough to share your rotting logs with the larvae of the great stag beetle, one of our most handsome endangered species. There will also be beneficial wood wasps and species of wood-boring beetles that will enjoy any rotting wood you leave around the garden. Have a look at the BBC Nature website for more seasonal advice on gardening for wildlife . Your month ahead Flower garden General care Greenhouse Kitchen garden Wildlife Latest bulletins from the horticultural scene.