We were very much inspired by reading George Monbiot's (@GeorgeMonbiot) 'Feral', it has reinforced our ideas about optimising our London garden for wildlife and we have realised we've got to put more effort into creating diverse micro habitats.
We already encounter numerous toads and newts when out and about so we decided to build a hibernaculum to enhance their garden experience.
Admittedly we were secretly dreaming of enticing in slow worms and adders. However, since our garden is mostly in shade all year round (its east-facing and slopes away from the house, with a neighbouring 3 storey house one one side and asbo Leylandii on the other, not to mention the 28ft pear tree)this is a safe, city pipe dream.
A bufo bufo we had to translocate before digging commenced. Their natural reaction is to hunker down, dead still which is why they are not very good at getting themselves out of the way of strimmers. Our garden backs onto an allotment and we despair March and August when the fields come alive with the sound of ye infernal strimmers.
The hole is two spades deep.
Now you see it ...now you don't, we purposely positioned the hibernaculum so that it is screened by ferns. After covering the heap with a good layer of soil we planted it with sweet woodruff, we hope this will in future create an insulating and moisture retaining 'green roof'.
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