A fascinating free guide to the mammals you can find in your garden has been published by English Nature.

Produced with The Mammal Society and Mammals Trust UK, the guide, illustrated with stunning photographs, has tips on attracting more mammals to your garden and deterring less welcome visitors.

Gardens are vital wildlife habitats and almost all gardens attract some mammals, from mice and shrews to badgers, foxes and deer. The guide shows how to live alongside the mammals in your garden and learn about the benefits they can bring. For example, moles can be good for your garden by eating harmful insect larvae like leatherjackets and helping to drain and aerate heavy soils. Hedgehogs are also very useful to have around as they consume large quantities of snails and slugs.

Steve Berry of English Nature, who edits the organisation's series of wildlife gardening leaflets, said: *