Wildlife & the Garden.The idea of the perfect wildlife friendly garden is a very personal one, varying greatly from person to person. Whatever your idea the benefits are not only to the wildlife, helping in conservation & biodiversity but also to us. Encouraging a healthy balance of wildlife reduces the need for pesticides through the use of biological control. The link between nature and positive mental wellbeing has been proven so improve your wellbeing in the process. Watching the bees, listening to the birds, being visited by a hedgehog, all these and more help us to feel good.
So what can you do? Your space, your skill level, ability, time & budget can vary however all these ideas can be tailored to suit. Whether you have a large garden or a few pots you can attract a wide selection of creatures big & small. |
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Birds:
Who doesnt love the sound of songbirds?
Hedgehogs:
Sadly not seen as often as they once were. But fantastic creatures in need of our care. However these are not pets! Encourage them to visit the garden but they cannot be 'kept'.
Stick Insects:
We appear to be home to a good number of stick insects. Not natives but naturalised here for a good 100 years. They can be seen from summer through autumn and feed on leaves such as Bramble, Rose, Privet as well as berries. These are amusing creatures to watch if you are lucky enough to find one. No they probably havent escaped and yes they are fine outside. They will not do you any harm and can be left to enjoy the garden popping up occasionally to make you smile.
Ponds & Pond Life:
A pond is a fantastic addition to any garden and can be as small as a mixing bowl or as large as a lake. Ponds offer a fantastic diversity of life. Attracting frogs, newts & toads. Damsel & Dragonflies. Pond skaters, water boatman and so much more. These creatures help our gardens by feeding on slugs, snails & flies and pollinating the flowers.
Setting up a pond:
Who doesnt love the sound of songbirds?
- Put out a bird feeder to attract them in, place it somewhere 'safe' above the height of cats, dogs, foxes etc and have it near somewhere they can retreat to. For example ours are in an apple tree a few feet from a high planted fuchsia which they hide in if startled. Also do not site them above any prized growing area, birds are messy and will throw seed about, leave this seed as wrens & blackbirds do not visit feeders but instead feed from the floor.
- How much you wish to feed them is up to you however do not overfeed, you want to encourage them to eat your pests, so treat the bird food like a snack so they have to still forage for more.
- Use a good all round seed mix, or a selection of seed, fast balls, peanuts etc. Using no grow mixes are slightly more costly but tidier and less wasteful as the 'filler' isnt usually eaten so it saves time and money in the long run.
- Ensure your feeders are kept clean, check after any rain as seed tends to swell and block up the holes meaning it gets stuck and moulds. In this case empty and clean out. Disinfect regularly.
- Offer shallow dishes of water for birds to drink and bath in, the glass dishes from washing machines often work well. If deep add a few stones to raise the level.
- Offer dust baths, use an old dish or tray and fill with a fine layer of gardens soil leave to dry out, may need drainage holes for the winter. Unless you want a mud bath!
- Put up nest boxes, place in an east or west aspect (north can be too cold for the young and south can overheat). Ensure these are out of reach of any predators.
- Do not prune hedges while birds are nesting, hedges can be cut back at the end of the year reducing the need in spring. A heavy cut late in the year and one after birds have flown takes back most that is needed.
Hedgehogs:
Sadly not seen as often as they once were. But fantastic creatures in need of our care. However these are not pets! Encourage them to visit the garden but they cannot be 'kept'.
- If you garden has solid walls or fences ensure there are small gaps for hedgehogs to come in through, the wildlife trust suggests a 13cm square is enough without allowing larger creatures or pets in/out.
- Set up a feeding station, these can be purchased or home made.
- Offer a hedgehog house for hibernation over winter.
- Do not use slug pellets, (organic non harmful to animals are available). As well as other alternatives, crushes eggshell, sharp grit, wool pellets, coffee grounds amoung others can be used instead by surrounding vulnerable plants.
- Leave out a shallow dish of water.
- Do not worry about ponds, hedgehogs can swim, but do make sure they have ways in and out.
Stick Insects:
We appear to be home to a good number of stick insects. Not natives but naturalised here for a good 100 years. They can be seen from summer through autumn and feed on leaves such as Bramble, Rose, Privet as well as berries. These are amusing creatures to watch if you are lucky enough to find one. No they probably havent escaped and yes they are fine outside. They will not do you any harm and can be left to enjoy the garden popping up occasionally to make you smile.
Ponds & Pond Life:
A pond is a fantastic addition to any garden and can be as small as a mixing bowl or as large as a lake. Ponds offer a fantastic diversity of life. Attracting frogs, newts & toads. Damsel & Dragonflies. Pond skaters, water boatman and so much more. These creatures help our gardens by feeding on slugs, snails & flies and pollinating the flowers.
Setting up a pond:
- Choose your location, your pond is part of the aesthetics of the garden so where do you like it? However think about maintenance. In constant shade the water will stay cold, in full sun it will evaporate quicker. If under trees leaves will have to be fished out in autumn.
- Try to create a pond that is deep enough so that in winter it does not freeze all the way to the base, animals will retreat below the ice level. This will vary depending on your location.
- Ensure the construction material is frost proof. Typically large ponds are prefab or lined yet smaller ones may be decorative dishes these may not be as strong if the water freezes it could shatter them.
- If you have young children don't let this put you off. If uncertain create a boundary of strong plants or fencing. Children can enter when supervised. Ponds offer a fantastic educational resource and should be utilised.
- If not a premade shape ensure the pond has ledges at set depths this allows for planting of deep, shallow, marginal and bog plants.
- Ensure a good selection of planting. Aquatic plants come in such a beautiful range including many wonderful natives. We advise using native UK oxygenators, they are a good selection including Callitriche (starwort), Ceratophyllum (Hornwort) & Hottonia (Violet) to name just a few. The regularly seen Elodea is available yet considered invasive so we advise against it.
- To accompany your oxygenators choose a selection of deep water and shallow water plants plus marginals for pond edges. A mix of creepers and tall growing look fantastic and grow in over edges to create a natural look. Aim for between 40 & 60 % surface cover during the summer. Dense growth offers shelter for young animals.
- A tip if you have fish which like to nibble at your plants (koi are known for this). Plant starwort on the edge of your pond, a corner works well and allow it to make a mat, as wide as you like. Once thickened up this acts almost like planting in soil. Plant the aquatics in amongst this weed. It works a treat!
- Ensure amphibians can get in and out of the pond, creating 'ladders' from stones or plants works well. simply ensure there isnt a high side to try and get out.
- Should your water turn green, this isnt an issue many species prefer a murkier water as this protects them from predators.
- However if you discover blanket weed this needs to be removed. It is most prolific when it is warm. And looks like a green algae coating.
- Aeration is important add a small fountain, or stream into the pond to keep gentle water movement these can be powered or solar. And offer the added benefit of pleasant sounds.
- Remove any leaf fall and rubbish that falls into the pond and old leaves at the end of the seasons.
- When plants get large they can be lifted and split. When doing this check the roots carefully as they are loved by newts and frogs.