Help winter wildlife

We hear a lot about climate change and the long-term effects it could have on our familiar wildlife. From recent reports, we know two things:

1. Robins are still doing well, and
2. Japanese knotweed (an imported, alien plant) is doing far too well, growing on derelict and under-managed land city-wide, and causing landowners to have nightmares about Triffids!

The original '12 Days of Christmas' song involved a partridge in a pear tree. In the 1970s, a new version replaced the partridge with a 'Japanese transistor radio'. Maybe the 2006 version should now feature a 'Japanese knotweed extermination kit'!

Anyway, just a quick reminder what we can all do to help wildlife survive the winter:

1. Feed birds and mammals (and remember that leaving out clean water to drink is just as important as food)
2. Provide shelter
3. Float a tennis ball (or a plastic duck!!) in the pond, so that when we get a 'freeze', there is an air-hole for fish, frogs and newts to breathe. This will also give other wildlife access to drinkable water.

This article has turned out to be my column 'swansong'.
From January, my colleague Shona Turnbull will be taking over as regular writer. She has already written some contributions when I've been away, and I know the column will be in good hands.
Please continue enjoying wildlife, sending in records and giving us feedback. In the meantime, Happy Christmas and New Year.