People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) is launching a new campaign to encourage people to create deadwood habitats in their gardens and green spaces.
Deadwood
Deadwood in all its forms is an essential habitat. It provides food, shelter and nest sites for insects, mammals and amphibians. Stag beetles in particular need dead wood that is either underground or in contact with the soil. Female beetles lay their eggs in the soil next to rotting wood and the larvae feed on the wood for several years. Adults emerge in May and June on warm evenings and fly around to look for a mate. They inhabit our gardens, woodlands and parks, mainly in the south east of England, but also into some parts of Wales. You can find out more about stag beetles and how to help them on the PTES website.
In our gardens, parks, orchards and woodlands it can be tempting to be tidy and get rid of stumps and fallen limbs, but PTES would like you to retain, create and replenish your dead wood habitats and then tell them about them.
Haven’t got any dead wood? Start collecting bits of wood from pruning, ask neighbours or even buy some. But please don’t take wood from woodlands as this will remove precious habitat.
Map your log pile from 7 June
Whether in your garden, communal green space, schoolground, church yard, park or woodland, please get involved and map your log pile to provide PTES with information about what dead wood habitats are out there and, perhaps even more importantly, to inspire others to do the same. Anyone can take part and join the bid to appreciate dead wood. Even if you are not in a stag beetle area, you can still build a log pile that will benefit an amazing range of other species.