Hermie's new outdoor enclosure

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I've just finished constructing Hermie's outdoor enclosure this weekend, having completed it last weekend but finding that the top soil had poor drainage so had to replace it:

[emma_mcraf]

It looks as if Hermie's enjoying exploring it. The campanula looks good.

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Originally Posted by emma_mcraf

The campanula looks good.

Picked it up from Tesco today.

[Suze65]

I don't want to sound negative, because I can see you have put a lot of thought and work into it, but I would make it less organised, and scatter the pebbles and shale across the whole area, and give him more things to hide under, like log roll, terracotta pots , and woody shrubs like lavender and rosemary. They love hiding under these sort of plants. Could you add a small cold frame. Try to make it more natural and interesting for him to walk about in.

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Originally Posted by mediterraneansuze

[...] give him more things to hide under, like log roll, terracotta pots , and woody shrubs like lavender and rosemary. They love hiding under these sort of plants. Could you add a small cold frame. Try to make it more natural and interesting for him to walk about in.

The top right of the picture is a large clump of Oregano, which she buries and hides under. Behind that (not in the picture above) is a log roll which she is not interested in and wasn't when it was in her indoor table either. She's a digger, so much prefers to dig into the soil than hide under things. Lavender or rosemary might get a little tall for the enclosure, as it has a wire top to stop the seagulls taking her. I could try putting a terracotta pot in there, as she used to used to go in one on her indoor table, but recently she just ignores it and digs into the soil. Rather than a coldframe, I have a box in there (top left) for her to go into when she needs a warmth.

[alley cat]

I like your enclosure, it looks a nice size for a tiny tort my hatchlings like to bury themselves right under the soil too, it is probably a defence strategy while they are young. As already mentioned maybe a couple more hiding caves/pots would be good and the only other thing I cant see is water, maybe it isnt visible in the pics? Nice job

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Originally Posted by alley cat

[...]and the only other thing I cant see is water, maybe it isnt visible in the pics? Nice job

I need to get something suitable for water... terracotta saucer maybe? I only finished the enclosure today, so she's only been in there a few hours and now she's back in her indoor table. I still have a few things to sort out.

[Catwoman63]

Looks really great, yeh a terracotta saucer will do the job.

Mt little Tyler likes to dig under the campanula bush, I've had to dig him out twice yesterday, as it was really cold outside and wanted to put him in the shed to warm up, then I found him under it again half hour later lol x