Wild Water And Quiet Corners

Apond can be the wildest space of all in your garden. It’s home to many creatures, a place for birds to drink and plants to grow. Children love to peer into the water and see what they can spot – whirligig beetles spiralling into the depths, pond skaters on the surface or tadpoles as they grow. Soften the edges with planting so that wildlife can come and go in safety and it also looks more natural.

Anywhere undisturbed can be a home for wild things. We had to have an ash tree cut down – sadly it was diseased – and David built a beautiful log pile (below left). It will be a shelter for many insects and small mammals for the couple of years that it is seasoning. And one year a stoat made its nest in a previous log pile. You can leave quiet corners of the garden for wildlife. I made one by weaving a front edge using hazel and willow and then filling the inside with prunings and sticks.