Wildlife Gardening Tips

A good over view on how to care for your garden and encourage wildlife at the same time.

  • Avoid chemical sprays
  • Plant nectar producing plants to attract bees and butterflies

    • January/February: viburnum, mahonia, winter aconites
    • March/April: pulmonarias (lungwort), brunnera (false forget-me-not), primula, bluebells, cowslips, wallflowers
    • May/June: lavender, nepeta (catmint), hollyhocks, veronica (brooklime), chelone(turtlehead), marigolds, alyssum
    • July/August: liatris (gayfeather), aconitum (monkshood), lathyrus (sweet pea), snapdragon, eupatorium, honeysuckle, cotoneaster, buddlea
    • September/October: aster, solidago (golden rod), erigeron, stokesia, sedum
    • Bear in mind that a sheltered sunny spot will be more favourable to bees and butterflies and also that they prefer a stand of flowers, so plant in clumps

  • Remember that caterpillars need a food source. Try to find a corner for stinging nettles, thistles, cuckoo flower, wild carrot, sorrel and birds foot trefoil
  • Leave the cutting back of summer growth as late as possible – even into early spring, to provide a haven for overwintering insects and seeds for bird food
  • If you have fruit trees don’t be too fastidious about clearing windfalls. Birds, insects and small mammals use rotten fruit as a food source
  • Provide a water source
  • Make a “fish free” water feature. It will soon be colonised by aquatic insects
  • Make a bug bench
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  • Make a compost heap or get a bin and add your kitchen waste. The cheapest, most natural fertiliser available