Pumpkins dumped in woodland at Stockwood Open Space
Now that Halloween is over, people are being encouraged to dispose of their pumpkins in a nature-friendly way.
The Woodland Trust says: “Feeding woodland wildlife with leftover Halloween pumpkins might seem helpful and eco-friendly, but it does more harm than good.
“Pumpkins take a long time to break down and as they rot, they damage delicate woodland ecosystems, attract rats and can be fatal to animals like hedgehogs. Please don’t leave pumpkins in our woods.”
Pumpkins can be turned into bird feeders and added to the compost heap when they start to rot to avoid harming the birds.
They can also be composted at home with your food waste.
