Different species have different strategies for coping with the cold. From hunkering down in the undergrowth to leaving the country altogether, here are some of the ways our local wildlife survives the winter.

Head for sunnier climes: According to old country lore, swallows overwintered in the mud at the bottom of ponds – presumably because they often drink on the wing by skimming over water. We now know that swallows fly to sub-Saharan Africa. It’s a costly and risky strategy, but there simply aren’t enough insects on the wing in a British winter to ensure survival.

Love the cold: One of our local winter wonders is salmon and sea trout spawning in our chalk rivers. They are particular about choosing fast-flowing sections with clean gravel beds. Winter is best for them because flows in rivers are strong and the water is cold enough to ensure the constant cleaning of the gravel. Spawning salmon can even be seen in public parks where rivers flow through our towns and cities.

Follow the food: Winter thrushes – fieldfares and redwings – come here from Scandinavia to gorge on the bountiful supply of berries and invertebrates.

These birds will often travel in mixed flocks which give safety in numbers from predators but also cooperation during feeding.

Hibernate: Dormice famously gorge to fatten up for winter hibernation – sometimes doubling their summer body weight. Their winter hibernation nests are tucked away in leaf litter where the temperature is more stable. These mammals shut down their metabolism so that their energy supplies see them through to spring. In mild winters they may break their hibernation, but this uses up valuable energy supplies if they cannot feed.

Suspended animation: While rummaging in the garden shed or pruning climbing plants such as ivy in winter, you may come across an adult butterfly such as the red admiral.

These insects are in a state known as ‘diapause’ – literally suspended in physiological animation where their bodies are just ticking-over at the ambient temperature. During sunny spells, however, even in January, they may be seen on the wing in search of nectar, their black wings acting as solar panels to gain warmth.

How can you help? Obsessive tidying in the garden often leads to a loss of hibernation sites and food supplies for a range of wildlife. For example dead stems from flowering plants provide cover for insects and, in return, food for birds.

Some flowering stems such as sedum and grasses are attractive as well as good for wildlife, so why not leave them until spring? Piles of leaves provide a feast for a multitude of soil animals and fungi, which improve garden fertility as well as underpinning the food-web.