Now that Halloween is here, it’s time to carve the pumpkin! But before you get set to cut out the classic pumpkin face, perhaps you’d like to try a new design this year? Group of three young girls birdwatching from viewing screen alongside seasonal pumpkin whilst enjoying special Halloween trail, RSPB Strumpshaw Fen Nature Reserve, Norfolk, October. Photo: Phil Barnes (rspb-images.com)
Take a look at these inspirational wildlife themed designs from Discover Wildlife, or get a carving stencil design e-mailed to you from the World Wildlife fund with three ability levels: beginner, intermediate or advanced for the expert carver! You’re sure to get admiration from the neighbourhood with any of these.
If you’ve no plans on carving, but have every intention on eating your pumpkins, you may find this advice on storing pumpkins and winter squashes from the RHS helpful. There are lots of pumpkin recipes online and if you’ve never eaten yummy sweet, cinnamon-y pumpkin pie, perhaps this is the year to try it!
But what about left over pumpkins for wildlife? For years we have been advised to put them out for badgers, birds, foxes, insects and squirrels to feed on, but there have been some warnings against it like this example from the Dorset Echo paper where PDSA veterinary nurse, Anna Ewers-Clarke said “Pumpkins aren’t toxic to pets, but eating large quantities could lead to stomach upsets. The candles inside the decorations can also pose a danger, so it’s best to keep them out of reach from curious paws... Pumpkins will often go off after a few days especially if the weather is warmer. As mouldy food can pose hazards to animals…” In addition, a Dorset Wildlife Trust spokesperson said: “Pumpkins aren’t something we would recommend feeding to hedgehogs (we would only recommend feeding meaty cat or dog food, or a specific hedgehog food with protein high on the list of ingredients). Leaving decomposing food out in the open is also likely to attract rats.”
Articles like this can have us questioning whether it’s the right thing to do, but Scottish RSPCA superintendent Sharon Comrie said: "We haven't found any strong evidence that pumpkin is harmful to hedgehogs, other than they could get bloated if they overeat it but this is the same with any food.”
So it would seem that we could put left over pumpkin out for our local wildlife safely as long as:
Perhaps cutting it up and spreading it around the garden will give many creatures a chance to enjoy a little pumpkin rather than one animal gorging on the whole thing!
Birds do love the seeds, so if you wanted to dry them out to feed to the birds, first, extract them from the flesh by putting it in water and separating them with your fingers. Rinse the seeds in a colander and lay out on baking paper. Bake them on a flat oven sheet for approximately 10 minutes at 180 degrees C to dry them out (rather than toast them). Roughly chopping them will make them easier for smaller birds to enjoy.
The flesh (and the seeds if you’re not saving them) can go in the compost bin and will still feed worms and insects currently residing in there plus break down relatively quickly to create nutrient rich goodness for your garden next year.
How ever you choose to carve and use your pumpkin, we at the Flatford Wildlife Garden wish you and all your local wildlife a happy Halloween!
The Flatford Wildlife Garden, is open Saturday 30th and Sunday 31st October from 10.30am – 4.30pm.
Entrance to the garden is free and well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome. Car parking is £5 at the Flatford National Trust car park and this gives you access to the stunning countryside walks around Flatford and Dedham Vale in Constable Country.
The garden closes for the winter season from Monday 1st November and will re-open in Spring 2022.