Errors to avoid and how to help wildlife as you get your garden in france ready for spring

GARDENING WITH CARE CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE AT THIS TIME OF YEAR When preparing your garden in France for the arrival of spring, try following these tips to protect its inhabitants as the

temperature rises. There are three common mistakes that gardeners make at this time of year, which can threaten garden life including hedgehogs, insects, and other nesting animals, notes

L’Edition du Soir. MISTAKE 1: CUTTING THE HEDGES, DISRUPTING NESTS Experts recommend leaving extensive hedge-cutting until summer, to avoid disturbing springtime nests, as April marks the

beginning of the nesting period for many animals. “By pruning, you risk knocking down a nest or leaving it in the sight of predators by pruning the branches,” said François Thoumy, from LPO

Bretagne. Legally, there are no restrictions on cutting hedges in your own garden, but Mr Thoumy recommends waiting until the end of July to give most of the young time to leave the nest.

Read more: Gardeners in France told to stop cutting hedges in bird nesting season Read also: Homeowners asked to pause cutting garden hedges in France  MISTAKE 2: MOWING THE LAWN WITHOUT

CHECKING FOR HEDGEHOGS Rescue centres in France always note an increase in the number of hedgehogs injured by lawn mowers in spring. Read also: ‘The first baby hedgehog we rescued was

love-at-first-sight’  Before attacking your lawn, consider: * Checking for hedgehogs that may be drowsy after waking from hibernation * Starting mowing from the middle of the garden, to give

hedgehogs a chance to escape to the outside * Waiting until the beginning of summer to put away any old logs or clearing wood piles, which may contain a litter of hedgehogs. If the young

are disturbed, the mother may abandon them. If your property is subject to an undergrowth clearing notice (débroussaillage), be sure to stay aware of hedgehogs as you clear. Read also: Watch

out for hedgehogs when clearing overgrowth in your French garden Read more: Wildfires: French law may require you to cut back at-risk vegetation Débroussaillage (strimming or cutting back)

laws require residents to clear away any plant life (living or not) that could allow a fire to jump from place to place. This might mean removing long grass, shrubs, bushes or log piles,

pruning trees, or moving inflammable plants away from your house. This is normally obligatory for those who live in departments that are particularly vulnerable to these fires, and whose

property is within 200m of a forest or other woodland. MISTAKE 3: CUTTING YOUR GARDEN RIGHT BACK As you mow, consider “leaving a patch of lawn or tall grass and untrimmed plants, for the

insects and indeed the whole food chain”, said Mr Thoumy. This can provide food sources and hiding places for many insects that are crucial to the garden ecosystem, such as bees.  Small

mammals also find refuge and resources in long grass. Read more: Test your French with these nine expressions linked to insects Read also: Millions of insects migrate over France from

northern Europe to southern Spain