As the days shorten, our garden wildlife is looking for a safe place to rest.
The bumblebee goes into full hibernation. Most bumblebee queens nest just below the ground, or under piles of leaves and brush, and stay there until spring. The old colony dies away, so the whole future of next year's bumblebees rests on these queens.
Many other creatures go into a dormant state rather than true hibernation. Butterflies tuck themselves away in sheds, hollow stems and ivy, while hedgehogs make nests of leaves under hedges and log piles.
To survive the winter, they all need two things: fat reserves built up through the autumn, and a secure place to rest where they won't be disturbed. That's why the leaf piles, brush heaps and quiet corners in your garden matter so much. Each one could be a winter home.
