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Frequently Asked Questions.
Watch this space as we will be building up our list of questions and answers. If you have a question or would like to add an answer, email us.
Question: How do I encourage hedgehogs?
Answer: (From Sue Gascoigne)
I was very surprised when we moved here that there didn't seem to be any around. I contacted the British Hedgehog Preservation Society to see if I could give some a good home. They wanted to know if there was a badger sett in the vicinity as this could prove fatal for any hedgehogs as badgers will eat them.
Q - We have rosebay willowherb and hemlock water dropwort in our PNR. They both seem to be expanding. Should we try and control them in some way?
A - I would answer this question in two parts.
1. Rosebay Willowherb can become very dominant within plant communities,
especially scrubland or woodland. However, it is often one of the few
things that can compete with bracken in mid-late summer, and as a result
is a good nectar source for butterflies, moths and other insects. I would
only try controlling it if the habitat you were replacing it with was
better. For example, replacing scrub with agriculturally unimproved grassland.
It is always essential to know (or have a pretty good idea) of what will
replace the Rosebay / Bracken, if it does not benefit wildlife, i.e.
A pristine lawned garden
(!!), I would advise against it.
2. Hemlock Water-dropwort. A native species, but it can become quite
invasive in damp places such as in ditches and streamsides. It is toxic
to livestock. However, that did not stop a flock of sheep munching their
way through it at our Llanbwchllyn reserve in May!! (They seem to have
been totally unaffected). Again it is important to realise that it is
a part of the native plant communities on your land,
so if you eradicate it, you have 'unbalanced' the habitat. However, if it has
become invasive and you wish to control it you should contact RWT for a site
visit and further investigations.
Julian Jones
Richard's note; With Hemlock Water-dropwort it is the roots that are toxic.
If you are ditch or pond cleaning and you bring roots to the surface make
sure
that livestock cannot get to them, as when they dry out they become palatable,
while remaining poisonous. There are instances on record of whole herds of
cattle being (fatally) poisoned in this way.
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