Let loose your WILD SIDE
Ten steps to turn your plot into a natural haven for birds, bugs and mammals
IS YOUR garden a private nature reserve or a patch devoid of wildlife? Don’t despair if it’s the latter. Here are ten simple ways to make your garden more attractive to birds, mammals and beneficial insects.
GROW THE RIGHT FLOWERS
Selecting the right flowers is a great way to attract bees, butterflies and pollinating insects into the garden. Ideally, grow plants to provide nectar and pollen all year round. Mahonias, aconites and heathers are loved by mini-beasts in winter, while wallflowers, grape hyacinths and pulmonarias are favourites for spring. Hebes, lavenders and buddleias will have gardens buzzing with life in summer. Keep things going until the end of autumn with Michaelmas daises, dahlias and ice plants.
FEED THE BIRDS
Many birds struggle to survive over winter, so give them a helping hand by installing some feeders. There are lots of devices available, from hanging feeders to polemounted ones. Place where birds have a clear view of the garden and can fly to cover if necessary, ideally within 7ft of a tree, shrub or hedge. Fill with a good-quality seed mix that contains energy-rich ingredients, such as sunflower hearts and suet pellets. Don’t forget to provide water for drinking and bathing.
PLANT A TREE
Trees play a vital role in sustaining wildlife. Birch, holly and elder are ideal, as they have flowers to attract insects, berries for birds to eat and gaps for them to make nests. You can even hang feeders from their branches. If space is tight, go for a compact crab apple for its spring blossom and autumn fruit that persists into winter. Make the most of the dormant season by planting a bare-root specimen. These are quick to establish and cheaper than their container-grown counterparts.
CREATE HABITATS
Frogs, toads, beetles and hedgehogs love to shelter under rotting logs in the wild. Create a mini log pile by loosely arranging a few old branches in a shady place, such as the base of a hedge. If you have a small garden, attach a ‘bug hotel’ to a wall or fence. Consisting of a wooden frame filled with tightly y packed pieces of bark, bamboo canes and other materials, they are designed to provide winter shelter for ladybirds, lacewings and solitary bees. Make sure they face north so hibernating creatures aren’t woken too early in spring.
JUST ADD WATER
A water feature is essential for wildlife. It provides somewhere for birds and mammals to drink, while frogs, toads and newts will populate larger bodies of water. Numerous insects spend their lives in water or are attracted to aquatic plants. For example, dragonflies like to perch on bulrushes and water horsetail. Those with plenty of room could build a pond, making sure it has h shallow sides to allow access. If you’re strapped for space, go for a bubble fountain or container pond filled with diminutive aquatics.
COVER VERTICAL SURFACES
Make the most of bare walls and fences by covering them with climbers and wall shrubs. Apart from looking good and hiding eyesores, a tapestry of different plants will help wildlife. Pyracanthas, ivies and cotoneasters will provide tasty berries, shelter and nesting spots t for birds, and form a sanctuary for a range of beneficial insects. Flowering species, such as passion flowers, honeysuckle and clematis, along with climbing and rambling roses, will attract bees and butterflies.
PLANT A WILDLIFE HEDGE
A wildlife hedge is a structure that includes trees and shrubs with berries, flowers, fruits and nuts. It is typically composed of 60 to 70 per cent hawthorn with four or five other species, such as field maple, hazel and spindle. Late autumn to early spring is the best time to plant one using dormant, bare-root specimens. Once established, train native climbers into the hedge and under-plant with wildflowers.
GET COMPOSTING
Don’t consign fallen leaves, shrub prunings and spent vegetable plants to the wheelie bin. Instead, transform waste material into rich, crumbly compost by starting a compost bin or heap. When it’s ready, the stuff can be dug into the soil to improve plant growth, or spread across the surface to suppress weeds. Apart from improving garden health, a heap will provide shelter for slow worms, grass snakes, toads and insects. Never add cooked food waste as you may attract rats.
REDUCE PESTICIDE USE
In the past, chemicals were the first port of call for gardeners facing pest, disease or weed probl ems. Consider using organic alternatives, turning to chemical controls only as a last resort.
As a rule, never spray plants while they are in flower to avoid killing beneficial creatures. And don’t reach for the weedkiller if you spot the odd weed popping up; daisies, dandelions, nettles and clover are all a magnet to bees.
DON’T BE TOO TIDY
A tidy garden might look easy on the eye but it won’t appeal to wildlife. In order to attract as many creatures as possible, it’s best to relax and allow a few unkempt corners.
Allow some windfall fruit to remain on the grass as food for wildlife and don’t be in hurry to cut back seed heads of perennials as they’ll provide food for birds. The nooks and crannies within garden sheds are a popular hibernation spot for insects, so leave any cleaning until spring.