For some gardeners the thought of having mammals in your garden conjures up images of rats running free, badgers digging up vegetables and mice in the shed! However it doesn’t have to be quite so wild! It is perfectly easy to target certain species of mammal that you want, and keep out those that you don’t.

 

There are three species of mammal that we have at Aigas that we think most people would want in their garden, however for those of you in Kent it may require some wishful thinking! The three species are Pine Marten, Red Squirrel and Hedgehog. Both Red Squirrel and Pine Marten have small populations away from the Scottish Highlands and perhaps if more people could provide food and shelter for them they could make a full recovery throughout the United Kingdom.

 

The best tip for all mammals is to provide more natural food. This means planting native tree and shrub species and increasing the number of invertebrates. Good ways of doing this are to create a compost heap, make a log pile and dig a pond. With more insects and native buds and berries more wildlife (including mammals) will visit your garden.

 

Red Squirrels prefer coniferous trees, especially those that are over 30 years old. They will eat most things, but love Pine cones. At Aigas, the numbers fluctuate year on year, but with the provision of Squirrel feeders we hope that they will stay around, and in good numbers. The principle of the feeder is simple, the food is kept behind a Perspex sheet which birds and mammals can see and smell. However, it is only the Squirrel that can sit on the shelf and lift the lid to reach the peanuts and hazelnuts inside. If you do not have old trees then like birds, Squirrels do take to artificial nest boxes. We will put designs for the Aigas Red Squirrel feeder and for a Red Squirrel Drey Box on the web soon.

 An Aigas Squirrel Feeder

 

 

 

 

At Aigas we have a very healthy supply of Pine Martens. We believe that this is down to the mixture of habitats we have on the estate, and the rich diversity of invertebrates, small mammals, berries and birds to feed on. At our famous feeding station we attract the Pine Martens with jam and peanuts, however this is just to attract them, not to sustain them. There is plentiful natural food around for them. However, like the birds at Aigas, Pine Martens struggle for den sites, and so we have taken it upon ourselves to create Pine Marten den boxes, which we attach up trees. These would not be suitable for small gardens as they must not be disturbed. We follow the designs laid out by the Vincent Wildlife Trust, who have provided a design free of charge on the downloads page of their website.

 

Many people feed Hedgehogs in their gardens, and they are a real delight to watch. Pet food seems to be the preferred choice. Here at Aigas there is plenty of natural food for Hedgehogs, with slugs being one of their favourites. It is very important therefore that if you would like Hedgehogs and other similar mammals that you mustn’t use snail and slug killer, as this filters through to the mammals and other animals, like the Song Thrush. Left to their own devices they can happily munch their way through hundreds of these garden pests every night. One of the most important factors is a safe hibernating and nesting site (often separate). Compost heaps and wood piles are essential, as long as you check them carefully before moving them. Beware of bonfire stacks too, as the end of October is a prime time for Hedgehogs to find a new home, often in your beautifully built bonfire! There are many good Hedgehog boxes available to buy, and will work well if sufficiently buried. We will put designs out for an Aigas Hedgehog box soon.