ARTICLES

WILDLIFE ON YOUR DOORSTEP

Garden centres have a wide range of bird seeds, nuts and fat balls on sale at this time  of year to tempt birds into our gardens and it is so heartening in Winter to watch from the comfort of a warm house, as they flock to the bird table. Yet “back to nature” in the garden is a year round pursuit. Not only does it provide an entertaining past-time, but it is also good to know that you are doing your bit for the environment.   DON’T PANIC! Back to nature doesn’t mean that you have to turn the garden over to stinging nettles and dandelions. Many people already provide habitat or food for wildlife by growing trees, shrubs, and nectar rich plants.  You also don’t need acres of land or a new plot of land- most gardens have shrubs, flowers and maybe even a pond.  The main consideration for a successful wildlife garden is that there should be a good ecological balance- native plants encourage native species. Visitors to my garden will know that there are sometimes aphids on my Roses but they provide a tasty treat for the Blue Tits. Don’t spray, be patient and let nature take its course.

WILDLIFE TIPS

Native trees provide a useful habitat and food source, but choose a species which supports a good number of invertebrates.

 

BIRCH , a beautiful tree in any garden, has approx. 225 insects. It casts dappled shade in the garden in summer and, in winter, the silvery trunk is shown off to perfection. Looks especially good if lit with up-lighters at night.

 

CRAB APPLE supports around 90 insects. It also delights in spring with its glorious blossom.

HAWTHORN, another favourite as a tree or in a native hedge, has roughly 150; while HOLLY typically supports only 7!

 
PLANTS FOR BEES AND BUTTERFLIES

Cottage garden plants are ever popular for a colourful display and can provide food for butterflies and bees from late spring to late summer.

 

BEES like CROCUS, WALLFLOWERS, CELANDINE, BLUEBELLS, PULMONARIA, FOXGLOVES, DELPHINIUMS, LUPIN, GLOBE THISTLES, LAVENDER, MICHAELMAS DAISY, SCABIOUS, AND SEDUM to name but a few.

BUTTERFLIES

Grow flowers as food for butterflies. The obvious choice is the Butterfly bush (Buddleia) which flowers in the summer but you can expand on this with these plants.

PRIMROSE POLYANTHUS AUBRIET CANDYTUFT PINKS PETUNI HONEYSUCKLE GOLDEN ROD CATMINT VERBENA

 

 WILDLIFE PONDS

Ponds should be informal with sloping sides so that birds can drink and hedgehogs can scramble out if they fall in. By including a bog garden around the edge you can include plants which attract insects and are valuable to wildlife e.g MEADOWSWEET, LYSIMACHIA NUMMULARIA, RAGGED ROBIN, PURPLE LOOSESTRIFE

 

Avoid emptying the pond to clean it out as this destroys the delicate balance which keeps the pond clear and healthy. However if it is necessary to carry out cleaning or maintenance, bear in mind that frogs breed between the end of February and the end of April. They like to spawn in shallower water- 30cm or less- so a planting shelf will help with this and supply food for the tadpoles when they hatch. Added bonus- the frogs will eat your slugs!

      

Newts are a joy to watch in the pond .They breed in the water from March until July. Provide rocks or stones as they like to hibernate there over Winter.   In March and April you can spot the newts and their nocturnal activities in the pond by shining a torch on the bottom.

                               

FINALLY make sure that you are able to enjoy the wildlife. Site the bird table where you can see it from the house in the Winter and a well positioned arbour or bench will allow you to sit amongst the scented flowers in summer and relax to the sound of the bees and birds.

Stacy Tuttle

How to Make Your Garden Attract Birds

How to attract birds to your garden and help our winged friends by making a sanctuary in your own yard

Learn what birds need to survive and provide a home for them and an educational experience for the whole family.

The growth of the suburbs and urbanised areas and the proliferation of new build developments have increasingly shrunk the supply of bird habitats around the world. You don’t have to travel far to see this first hand just take a drive around your city or town and its environs. Increasingly, birds seek shelter, food, water and a place to raise their families. They don’t need a forest, their habitat can be anywhere. You can even create a welcoming place for birds in your own garden. Here are a few steps you can take to attract and keep birds and provide and educational and inspirational experience for the whole family.

1. Feed the birds. Hang bird feeders around your garden precincts. Different birds eat different foods—be sure to provide a variety. Hummingbirds are attracted to sugar water; nuthatches and woodpeckers like suet; bluebirds like mealworms and orioles like oranges. Check a “bird” book to find out what foods attract the kinds of birds you want to welcome to your back yard sanctuary.

2. Birds need calcium to form their eggshells and feed their babies. To help them out, place egg shells in your yard. Remember first to wash them, bake them in an oven for 25-30 minutes at 250 degrees and then scatter them in small pieces in an open area of your yard safe from predators.

3. Water is an attraction to birds. It is said that birds can hear the sound of running water from a mile away. Providing water for birds can be simple as adding a birdbath to your yard or installing a water feature, such as a pond.

4. Birds need cover for nesting to escape from harsh weather and to hide from predators. Birds use small branches and twigs to build their nests. If you have dense shrubbery or pine trees - you have cover. If you want to add or enhance this, leave dead tree limbs or old hollow trees where they stand. Put your dead Christmas tree outside in the winter; it will provide shelter for birds. When planning your garden in the spring, think about the birds and look for shrubs that will help them with their nesting needs.

Provide these elements and watch the birds arrive. You will be surprised at the variety in your own region. Bird watching is addictive. Keep a reference book handy and make a list of your “sightings”. The entire family can enjoy this activity.

COMING SOON

Wide range of articles on garden design with tips and hints on Planning, Landscaping, Ponds and Water, Raised Gardens, Rock Gardens, etc

For details on any of my garden design services please do contact me:

Tel 01488 682440

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