As families prepare to celebrate November 5 with colourful fireworks displays and bonfires, Essex Wildlife Trust is urging everyone to help protect animals from potential harm.

Loud noises and bright lights from fireworks can cause animals stress, especially those sensitive to noise. Bonfires also pose a threat to animals, such as hedgehogs, which hide within log piles to seek shelter or to hibernate. Fires and fireworks also release carbon and chemicals into the atmosphere and often leave litter behind.

Andrew Armstrong, Senior Ranger at Essex Wildlife Trust, said: "As we approach the fireworks season, please be mindful to protect wildlife. For example, when moving pallets or pieces of wood, please do check for hedgehogs or small mammals sheltering under the wood. If possible, please relocate these animals to a safe area. Also, please consider alternatives to candle-lit sky lanterns. These lanterns can descend and cause fires on local nature reserves."

The Trust encourages people to attend organised displays where possible to reduce the numbers of individual households contributing to these problems. If people choose to celebrate at home, they are urged to take the following precautions:

1. Prepare or move your bonfire on the day you are planning to burn it, so animals do not have the opportunity to take shelter within. You can also place chicken wire around the bottom to prevent animals entering.
2. Check your bonfire for wildlife, you can do this by gently using a broom or a pole to lift up different areas, whilst listening for animal noises such as a hissing hedgehog.
3. If you find a hedgehog in your bonfire, put on a pair of gloves, and carefully remove it taking with you as much of the vegetation as possible. You can keep it in a carboard box with ventilation holes until after the displays and then release it into a vegetated area.
4. Light the bonfire from one corner to give animals the chance to escape and ensure the bonfire is completely put out once finished.
5. Aim to use environmentally friendly fireworks and avoid using them near trees and hedgerows to help protect nesting birds from disturbance.
6. Make sure to pick up your litter following the celebrations.

A professional firework display and bonfire will take place in Promenade Park on November 5. Organised by Maldon Rotary Club, the event will feature live music and a fire-eating display.

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