What’s not to love about autumn and winter?

Help create a season of joy for animals...

Autumn is my favourite time of year.

The crunchy leaves falling from the trees, the red seasonal glow piercing through the moody morning fog… what’s not to love?

Harry, my cocker spaniel, loves nothing more than jumping through piles of fallen leaves and muddy puddles on his wanders.

It is a time of the year for enjoyment by all, with children joyfully selecting their pumpkins to carve scary Halloween characters in, and families enjoying organised bonfire displays on the 5th of November weekend.

It’s got me thinking about our British wildlife, and how they approach this time of year.

Hedgehogs will be prepping for their long winter hibernation, and tawny owl fledglings now readily searching for their own place to call home away from parents. You may just hear the surge of tawny owl calls at night, with their ‘kee-wicks’ screeches.

With all the preparations underway, you may find that hedgehogs, mice and other wildlife have made a ready to go bonfire the perfect home for winter, many burrowing deep into our timber offcuts piled high.

Every year, we hear of hedgehogs that have succumbed to a furiously lit bonfire that wasn’t checked before going up in flames. We hear of birds resting peacefully being literally scared to death by the thunderous bangs of fireworks.

Sadly, we also know that this is the time of year when hunting with dogs, by those determined to persecute our British wildlife, ramps up and the pleasure they get from seeing animals suffer in pain and misery fills them with joy.

This year, with a sense of preparation for the new year ahead, I desperately encourage you all to do two things with our British wildlife in mind:

Bonfire Night – 5th November

Check the bonfire thoroughly before lighting, or ask that event organisers have done the same.

Don’t let a hedgehog’s last moments be filled with the sound of an unaware human laughing, the smell of smoke incoming and immense pain.

Autumn and Winter

Remember me explaining the joy people hunting with dogs get from causing suffering, pain and misery on our wildlife? Remember it. Have your own awareness of this ‘season of joy’ and help us to stamp it out. It is happening around you.

If you are aware of named individuals who have turned our joyful season into an abhorrent savage season of suffering, it is your duty to report them.

Our covert investigators will investigate and will work with enforcement agencies to bring these people to justice. #SeasonOfJoy