Ideas

The gardens of the UK add up to an area greater than that covered by The Norfolk Broads, Exmoor, Dartmoor and the Lake District National Parks put together. So gardeners, you have a lot of potential at your green finger tips to do good for wildlife, the climate and yourselves. Here are some ideas………….


Say no to the mow

Choose a patch of lawn and simply let the grass grow. Less work - more flowers.

Eight dandelions provide enough nectar for 15,000 bee visits per day!! 

The best haircut for your lawn is a mohican, whereby some is left to grow tall and spiky and the rest gets a trim once a month. The trimed areas will produce the most nectar with dandelions, daisies and clover. The spiky part will produce flowers that prosper for longer and provide shelter.

 The “No Mow Zone” should be as big as you can make it, but even a single square metre will make a difference. Remember variety is the spice of life!

Go to Plantlife Charity for more tips, guidance, seeds and much more.

Washing up replaced by amphibians, dragonflies & parched hedgehogs

Building a pond is one of the most important things you can do for wildlife. It's incredible how even just a small pond or water source will start attracting wildlife to your outdoor space and it couldn’t be simpler. You can pretty much make one out of anything, a washing up bowl, an old kitchen sink, old baby bath or redundant sandpit.   Sink a washing up bowl in your lawn, add some pebbles (2/3rds full), a ramp in and out and some water weeds and hey presto: a pond. For more detailed instructions on how to make a washbowl pond go to Springwatch how to videos

B & Bs for the birds and bees

A good safe place to stay, a nice menu, some lovely places to visit, provide these and your satisfied guests will stay, longer, visit more often and even settle down and bring up a family. 

Put up some nesting boxes and bee hotels and you don’t have to go far to get one; Humshaugh Shop has a range in stock. Provide some top nosh in the form of mixed seeds, sunflower hearts, mealworms and fat balls and our feathered friends will be giving you 5 stars on     Titadvisor 

Also plant some bee, butterfly and bird friendly plants see the Royal Horticultural Society for lots of information and tips More information on this in the next newsletter.

Thanks to Chris Packham for the stats