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Habitat Pile

Image by Krzysztof Niewolny
Difficulty rating

Materials

  • Spade 

  • Logs and branches 

  • Bricks and rocks 

  • Drainpipe cut-offs or cement pipe pieces 

  • Turf or wildflower seeds (optional)

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Indicative Costs

  • A spade costs around £10-£30.

  • Logs and branches are free. 

  • Bricks and rocks are often free. 

  • Drain pipe: around £3-£10 

  • Turf: around £3 for 1m2 

Method

  • Dig a hole approximately 50cm deep and 1.5m across in a sunny area. 

  • Fill it with the branches stones bricks and logs, but leave plenty of gaps. 

  • Put the drain pipes into the hole at ground level (see useful links for diagram). 

  • Cover it all in soil until it's about 50cm high. 

  • Plant turf and wildflowers over the top, or leave to vegetate naturally. 

  • Let the grass/vegetation near by grow to provide extra habitat.

Benefits

Valuable habitat for invertebrates, and hibernating amphibians and reptiles.

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Maintenance

  • Avoid disturbing from October to March when reptiles might be hibernating.

  • Don't mow or strim the grass from March to October when reptiles are active and could get hurt.

  • Check annually and top up the material if necessary.

  • Ensure the surrounding habitat is managed to remain suitable for a range of species, with areas of longer grass and areas of bare ground for reptiles to bask in.

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