Wildlife gardening
1 June 2007
Looking after living things around us is where environmentalism all begins and what better place to start than your own back garden.
Living in a town means we are close to everything we need to live, but for birds, butterflies, frogs and other wildlife, trying to scrape a living from the sparse patchwork of natural green areas that are left between all the roads and buildings can be tough. The countryside is more hostile to wildlife now because of industrial scale use of chemicals on farmland plus destruction of hedgerows, ancient meadows and woodlands. Making your garden wildlife friendly is a genuinely enjoyable experience as you see the space around you coming to life.
Creating standing water in your garden is a sure bet for attracting more wildlife of all sorts. A wildlife pond is ideal, but a trough or tub sunk into the ground, a bird bath, or even an upside down dustbin lid will do the trick. Before you know it dragonflies, damselflies, pond skaters, newts, birds, and many others will visit and take up residence on your garden.
Butterflies love colourful, light, warm habitats like garden borders and yours can attract some of the most beautiful insects on earth. Scented plants such as rosemary, thyme and lavender are excellent sources of nectar as are buddleia and sedum.
Why not let a small area of your garden grow wild? It will really help shy animals like hedgehogs, who can find a quiet place to themselves. Nettles and ivy can grow rampantly providing food and shelter for lots of insects.
Choosing native or fruit / seed producing species of shrubs and bushes like hawthorn and blackthorn will help insects, who can feed from their flowers, and birds who can nest and shelter in them and eat the berries through the winter.
Even creepy crawlies play a vital role in the wildlife food chain. You can help them by leaving piles of small logs where they can make their home. A well-managed compost bin is a nature reserve in itself, providing a habitat for hundreds of small invertebrates. For animals that eat small insects, it's a ready made café! Compost is also fantastic food for all your plants and saves money on buying peat-free composts. Finally wildlife gardening is low maintenance - you’ll spend less time weeding and mowing and more time relaxing and watching!
Further info:
Wildlife gardening courses: www.gardenorganic.org.uk (click on events)
General info: Warwickshire Wildlife Trust: 024 76302912
www.wildlife-gardening.co.uk