“How to do your bit to help wildlife this winter,” says Louise
As the temperature drops, we can all do our bit to help wildlife make it through to spring. Louise Curley reveals the plants they need for food and shelter
THE winter months are tough for wildlife. The days are short, so there’s less time to search for food, but the cold means they need to eat more to stay warm. Pressure on their countryside habitats from intensive agriculture and development means many of our native birds, mammals and insects are already finding life difficult; factor in snow and ice, and for many creatures it’s a real fight for survival
All is not lost, though. Our gardens can be vital sanctuaries, especially if we grow the right plants and follow a few pointers to garden with wildlife in mind.
Providing sources of food for a variety of wildlife – birds, mammals and insects – is crucial. Of course, you can fill feeders with nuts and seeds, but there are plenty of plants that will provide sustenance throughout winter, too. Berry-laden trees and shrubs, such as honeysuckle, holly and cotoneaster, will keep birds and small mammals happy. And if you leave at least some of the seed heads of certain annuals and perennials in situ, these can be picked over by finches and other birds.
Bumblebees are tempted out of hibernation on mild, sunny days, so it’s important that there are sources of nectar to top up their energy reserves. Winter-flowering shrubs (mahonia, for example), evergreen climbers like
Clematis ‘Freckles’ and perennials such as hellebores will not only raise your spirits, but they’ll also be much appreciated by these pollinators. Garden centres will have a good selection of pots of tiny bulbs about to bloom over the coming weeks; plant them up to boost your garden’s flower power.
Shelter is often forgotten about, but it’s just as important. Position bird feeders and tables near shrubs and trees rather than out in the open. In that way, birds will have a quick escape
route if predators like sparrowhawks and cats appear. Shrubs with thorns and dense foliage are especially useful as birds can safely roost in these; they may even stick around to build a nest.
Invest in a bug hotel. Or build your own using lengths of hollow stems, tied together in bundles and placed in sheltered spots so that ladybirds, lacewings and queen wasps can snuggle up inside. And in an out-ofthe-way corner, pile up logs, branches and leaves – with any luck, you could finding yourself playing host to a hibernating hedgehog or two.