Wood pile - providing wildlife habitat
This shaded woodpile recreates a valuable habitat for mosses, lichens and fungi, as well as many insects, that would be created naturally in woodlands wherever there is fallen wood. Other animals such as birds and hedgehogs will then use this habitat as a source of food and shelter, particularly over winter. Dead wood is an amazing habitat for a large number of beetle species, including the stag beetle which will breed in wood buried in the ground.
There are now an overwhelming array of artificial wildlife habitats on the market. Other than bird and bat boxes which have been proven to work, many commercially available wildlife products are badly designed, so be careful. Bee hotels can do more harm than good if not appropriately managed. You can make your own out of bamboo, hollow plant stems or drilling holes into untreated wood, but if purchasing one, look for holes of different sizes, a good roof to protect from rain and avoid hotels without a back wall or any with pine cones.