As winter is approaching our little friends need accommodation  so we have set up cave-like shelters and a safe place to hibernate, and over the last few months we are constructing a large fountain,which we hope will attract many reptiles, amphibians, birds, and also flying insects for pollination reasons. What is a hibernaculum? During the cold winter months reptiles and amphibians take refuge and hibernate, usually heading underground, under logs, leaf litter, and other natural shelters - this is called a hibernaculum. We can help species of reptile and amphibians by creating artificial hibernacula, which are usually constructed from materials such as rocks, bricks, logs and natural materials.
Why are they important? Throughout the winter, they provide somewhere safe and warm for hibernation in all the nooks and crannies. However, depending on what you use to construct your hibernacula and where you place them, they can be useful to our amphibians and reptiles all year round, not just in the winter months. In the summer, they are a good place for basking, hiding from predators, and feeding when placed alongside good foraging