Ivy: home to birds, wasps, bees…
I must agree with Chris Baines ( Over the fence, March issue) about the merits of ivy, especially its benefits to wildlife. In my small garden, I have ivy growing everywhere: up walls, trellises and fences, and in hedges. It is home to blackbirds, collared doves, dunnocks, robins, wood pigeons, wrens and a large colony of sparrows. As for snails, a thrush visits my garden daily to polish them off. My garden would be a poorer place without ivy. It just needs to be kept under control with a good trim a couple of times a year. KR Martin, Bedfordshire When we took over our overgrown garden, there was ivy everywhere, mostly mixed with ground elder and Russian vine. I really hated it and spent many years cutting it back and pulling it out. However, I realised that the huge plant hanging onto the front of the house provided a safe haven to blue tits and a robin, and as Chris Baines says, many insects enjoy the flowers. So, I would advise: ivy in moderation, be careful where you plant it and don’t allow it to get out of control. Christine Allan, Hants