5th November is "Bonfire Night" in the UK. So for the UK, here we go again!
I don't know if people celebrate it in the same way nowadays as they used to, but it was always a party for everyone, with treacle toffee, a special sticky cake made with oatmeal and syrup, called "Parkin" (lovely cake!), toffee apples, baked potatoes....etc.
And of course, huge fires, and fireworks. A triple-whammy of dangerous possibilities for animals. Terrible for hedgehogs and other wildlife which may have sought shelter in piles of wood, collected sometimes for weeks to make the bonfire.
Terrible for pets too. Hardly any animal is going to enjoy bonfire night. People would keep their dogs and cats indoors on 5th November.
(A safe way for wildlife who may seek shelter for winter in wood piles is: keep the wood for the bonfire in another area. Then gradually remove it (get some careful strong teenagers who don't mind hauling logs!) -to put it in the place where the fire will be. That way, they can check for hedgehogs, grass snakes.....and other creatures will be able to get away and won't be burned alive.)
I don't know if people celebrate it in the same way nowadays as they used to, but it was always a party for everyone, with treacle toffee, a special sticky cake made with oatmeal and syrup, called "Parkin" (lovely cake!), toffee apples, baked potatoes....etc.
And of course, huge fires, and fireworks. A triple-whammy of dangerous possibilities for animals. Terrible for hedgehogs and other wildlife which may have sought shelter in piles of wood, collected sometimes for weeks to make the bonfire.
Terrible for pets too. Hardly any animal is going to enjoy bonfire night. People would keep their dogs and cats indoors on 5th November.
(A safe way for wildlife who may seek shelter for winter in wood piles is: keep the wood for the bonfire in another area. Then gradually remove it (get some careful strong teenagers who don't mind hauling logs!) -to put it in the place where the fire will be. That way, they can check for hedgehogs, grass snakes.....and other creatures will be able to get away and won't be burned alive.)
