Landscape and Urban Design Issue 45 2020 | Page 18

GARDEN DESIGN
SMALL ANIMALS
Many small pets live outdoors,
so owners will already have petproofed
their garden. Did you know
you can also grow a number of things
to feed them with, or use garden
materials to create feeders and toys?
• 10% of rabbits’ and guinea pigs’
diets should be made up of plants
like herbs, fruits and vegetables,
along with 85% being made up of
hay or grass. Many can be grown
at home – but not all of them
are recommended. Full feeding
guides are available on Wood
Green’s website.
• For example, blackberry bramble
leaves are superb for keeping
small pets’ digestive systems
healthy. For guinea pigs, pick and
scatter the leaves. Rabbits enjoy a
whole strip of bramble, including
the thorns.
• To provide enrichment for
small pet runs, consider tunnels,
cardboard boxes, trays filled with
soil or play sand, and/or large
willow or apple tree logs.
• Old plastic plant pots can also be
reused, and stuffed with hay and
freshly picked forage, for rabbits
and guinea pigs to browse.
• If you’d like to offer a spacious
and enriched environment for
small pets that also looks nice,
you could build your own into
the available landscape – such
as upcycling a shed, or building
rabbit mounds and burrows.
For further advice about creating
a pet-friendly garden, or for free
advice and support about any other
aspect of pet care, please go to
woodgreen.org.uk.
In the past year Wood Green,
The Animals Charity has helped
around 7,000 pets in need, from
urgent veterinary treatment
and rehabilitation through to
behavioural training and support
for pet owners on all aspects of
pet care. This wouldn’t be possible
without kind donations from
members of the public. You can
donate to this worthy cause by
visiting woodgreen.org.uk.
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