Thursday 6 November 2014

Autumn Wildlife Garden

My eye was caught this week by a report on the National Pollinator strategy that has been published. The upshot of this six month consultation was that from farmers to domestic gardeners more can be done help the bee population survive. With this in mind I had a think of what can be done in our own gardens at this time to help all wildlife.
If we are talking about bees we also need to be looking at all insects. The bug house at Clumber Park in the top photograph is very impressive but it does give some ideas how to make your own version at home. Drinking straws, hollow canes and plant stems, hay, and house bricks all make a fine dwelling for a variety of bugs. Alternatively leave a pile of twigs for slugs, centipedes and woodlice to find.
Another way to help insects to to simply do nothing. Don't tidy up and instead leave piles of fallen leaves about. Hedgehogs, toads and frogs love a leaf pile for shelter and protection.
One of the suggestions of the report was to stop mowing lawns. I know for some people a back garden looking like a jungle may not appeal to you. Over autumn and winter this is an easier option but perhaps it's good time of year to think about a patch to leave wild once the spring comes. Birds such as starlings and blackbirds love searching for insects like leatherjackets (more commonly known as Daddy Long Legs or Crane Flies) in long grass.
One of the biggest threats to the bee population is the use of pesticides and in particular neonicotinoids. Bees need flowers for pollination so one of the best options for easy organic planting in your garden is a wild flower meadow. I'm not going to try and convince you that a display like one above is achievable in the autumn but it's definitely worth digging over a patch of soil now so it is ready for sowing next year.
If you have been thinking about having a pond in your garden autumn is the best time to put one in. This will give it time to naturally fill up over the winter and establish it for the spring when egg-laying time will start. Make sure you site it away from any overhanging trees otherwise you will be forever having to clear it. Keep a shallow end and at least one sloping edge to allow easy access for animals to escape out of.
One of the everyday joys I have in my garden is seeing the birds come and feed. Many people think it is not worth putting out feeders as they don't have any birds in their garden. If you don't offer them food they won't come! I always put out seed throughout the year as this seems to attract a variety of birds both large and small. Try out other foods such as fatballs, niger seeds and peanuts. Not all birds will like them. I found that peanuts were not popular and I have now stopped putting them out. Don't be a bird snob! If all you get are sparrows be pleased they have chosen your garden to visit.
We all like a bit of free food birds included! Seeds have to come from somewhere so instead of buying them let sunflowers, thistles and teasels go to seed rather than cutting them back. Also leave fruit such apples and pears on the ground for blackbirds for munch on.
Finally, there's nothing that screams winter is coming than the sight of red berries about when all other trees have shed their leaves. You may not have room for a pyracantha or cotoneaster in your garden but a small holly bush can be fitted in. I have one as part of a line of shrubs in my front garden. What a treat for those winter visiting Redwings and Fieldfares.

Simple Wanderlust
Joining the gardening love with Annie at Simple Wanderlust and How Does Your Garden Grow?


22 comments:

  1. I have my wildflower seed packets all ready for planting and have already planted some. And our garden has lots of little cosy spots for bugs and bees to hibernate (I'd love to say they're all deliberately placed, but that wouldn't be true!) I think the berries this year are looking especially vibrant-does that mean we might be in for a cold winter, I can never remember?!

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    1. I'm sure I've heard that about the berries and a cold winter although I'm not sure about the science in it though!

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  2. Now it's turning colder I'll be getting the fat balls out again for the birds - they love them, but unfortunately so do the squirrels who raided my greenhouse for them and stole the lot earlier in the year! I like the bug hotel idea too and have sketchy plans to make my own using some only wooden garden chairs instead of pallets. It needs a bit more thought but I think it'll work... MOH has categorised this idea as another madcap one, but I'll prove him wrong yet :)

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    1. You go for that bug hotel! Perhaps you could describe it as a 'boutique bug hotel'?

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  3. Thank you for sharing all of these tips, I love seeing wildlife in our garden and in the summer we always have plenty of bees. Loving the bug hotel at the top x #HDYGG

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    1. There are so mnay simple ways everybody could help. Every flower helps!

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  4. we have been feeding the birds all summer they were greedy then but the food is really being gobbled up now its got colder. those wild flowers really are wonderful to look at such a burst of colour

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    1. Some days the birds here have a feeding frenzing and others days it just one that turns up. I've been waiting for an excuse to use the flower meadow photograph!

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  5. This is a great post, lovely photos and some great tips. I'm planning a wildflower garden for one of the upper terraces in our garden, maybe not next year (a bit of work to do on overall levels first!) but definitely the year after :) #HDYGG

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    1. I had a narrow patch behind once of our garden benches with nothing in. It's very shallow but I sowed some seeds there this year and they filled the space nicely.

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  6. This is such a good post! I love that bug hotel, it's a really nice feature for a garden. A pond is something I'd really like in the garden but we have no space for one. Nice photos :)

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    1. We don't have room for a pond either but next door has one. We often find frogs in our garden who have lost their way!

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  7. I really need to get my bottom organised and look into wild meadow planting, I have a nice area of the garden that I would love to just grow wild and free. Super helpful tips here - just what I needed to read as it happens :)
    Thanks for joining in again my wildlife loving friend xx

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    1. The photograph of the wild flowers was at Cardiff Bay in July and it looked amazing. I think getting a good mix of colour and bee-loving plants is the key.

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  8. oh! i love this post! so many fabulous ideas!

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    1. Some of them are so easy to do. I love the do nothing approach!

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  9. Lots of good ideas, I'd like to leave a patch of wild/long grass I think. Minimum effort!

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    1. Absolutely minimum effort! Just think of the nature benefits the next time you see an overgrown garden!

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  10. Great ideas. My girl made a bug hotel - and got a Blue Peter badge for her efforts! - so we have made a start. Also have big patches of overgrown bits and now have the perfect excuse to leave them as such! Perfect manicured lawns are dull anyway ;)

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    1. Well done on that Blue Peter badge! Sounds like a great start to a wildlife garden.

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  11. Nice post - if everyone did just one thing from this list it would go so far to help wildlife. Making a bug hotel is on my To Do Very Soon list.

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I appreciate your comments. If you have any tips, tricks or tweaks please pass them on!