Off to a flying start

NOW the school holidays are over, it’s a good time to inspire young minds in the garden.

First up, get children to observe and record wildlife in a daily diary. It is writing practice made fun.

It is also a way to get the kids back into a routine, as much of the wildlife activity happens in the morning.

At this time of year, there are still plenty of white butterflies, plus the newly emerged r ed admiral and painted ladies, which feed on overripe pears, plums and apples.

Holly blue butterflies feed on ivy flowers and a grassy meadow will be magnet to large and small skippers and meadow browns. Top up food supplies by putting honey- soaked cotton wool in saucers in the garden. At dusk, you may see night-flying moths such as the cream-coloured swallow-tailed and the fluffy white yellow-tail. There’s also the yellow brimstone and the spectacular garden tiger, whose furry caterpillars are known as woolly bears. Garden t i ger moths overwinter as caterpillars but if you pick one up, the hairs will irritate your skin. Before bedtime beckons, get them to keep their eyes peeled for bats swooping and squealing as they leave their roosts and hunt for tiny insects. It’s also the mating season, so listen for males using special purring and clicking calls to attract females. Do a stock take of borders to see what autumn and winter food plants you have to keep any birds coming back during the lean times.

If there’s a shortage, make a family trip to the garden centre to buy fruiting varieties such as cotoneaster, pyracantha and viburnums.

It’s not too late to plant herbs. Many insects, including bees, will visit late flowering plants for their nectar and a herb bed is a rich feeding ground for seed- eating birds if you include chicory, angelica, lovage and fennel.

Rig up a bird table in view of the lounge window. And put an upturned dustbin lid balanced on two piles of bricks to make a quick-fix watering hole for birds, hedgehogs and foxes.

Finally, remember that feeding hedgehogs bread and milk can kill. Instead, leave out a plate of cat or dog food or, better, still, hedgehog food.