With Halloween approaching, Staffordshire countryside teams are reminding residents not to leave unwanted pumpkins in country parks or other countryside locations once the celebrations are over.
While leaving pumpkins out for wildlife may seem like a kind gesture, they are not a natural part of the diet of animals such as deer, hedgehogs and badgers and can cause them harm.
Staffordshire County Council's rangers regularly find discarded pumpkins in parks and green spaces after Halloween. As they begin to rot, pumpkins can attract pests, create slippery surfaces on paths and become a hazard for visitors enjoying the countryside.
Decorations, candles and tealights left inside pumpkins can also pose a risk to wildlife if swallowed.
Instead, residents are being encouraged to make the most of Staffordshire's food waste recycling service. Any leftover pumpkin flesh can be placed in a food waste caddy and recycled into renewable energy and fertiliser. People can also use pumpkin in soups, curries and other seasonal recipes, or compost it at home.
For residents interested in home composting, Staffordshire County Council has a handy video guide to help people get started.
Hayley Coles, Acting Leader and Cabinet Member for Communities and Culture at Staffordshire County Council, said:
"Leaving pumpkins in the countryside may seem like a kind gesture, but they can do more harm than good, creating problems for wildlife and visitors.
"Please put pumpkin leftovers in your food waste caddy to help turn them into renewable energy and fertiliser.
"Our rangers and volunteers work hard to keep Staffordshire's country parks safe, clean and welcoming, so we're asking everyone to take their pumpkins home and leave no trace when visiting our countryside this Halloween."
