A Guide To Supporting Garden Wildlife.
As the gardening season winds down in November, it’s an ideal time to consider how to support local wildlife through the winter months.
Helping Birds During Winter
As the winter sets in, many of our feathered friends face challenging times ahead in finding food, water and shelter.
Here are some things you can do to support wild birds during the colder weather.
Provide Food
Set up bird feeders filled with high-energy foods. Seed mixes with peanuts, sunflower seeds, and suet fat balls are very good options.
Natural Sources
Plant shrubs and trees that produce berries, seeds, nuts and attract insects. For example holly, cotoneaster, rowan, hawthorn, pyracantha and crab apples. These are all good natural food sources that the birds are going to benefit from.
Fresh Water
Birds need access to clean water for drinking and bathing. Place a shallow dish of water which will need to be refilled regularly with tap or rain water. If you are really keen you could consider a heated bird bath to solve your deicing solutions.
Create Shelter
Install roosting boxes or birdhouses to give birds a safe place to stay warm.
Natural Cover
Plant evergreen dense trees, shrubs and climbers to provide a natural shelter from strong winds, rain, snow, and predators. Holly, Yew, box, pines, ivy and honeysuckle are good examples.
Keep Feeders Clean
To prevent mould and diseases
use a simple soap solution to clean bird feeders on a regular basis. Make sure these are rinsed thoroughly before refilling
Avoid Pesticides
Many birds rely on insects and seeds during winter so avoid using harmful chemicals.
Educate Others
The more people who help, the better it is for our local bird population and so share your knowledge about bird care with others.
Helping the local bird population during winter will support their survival and add enrichment to your garden.
Creating or Sourcing a Hedgehog and Insect Home
By providing safe places for hedgehogs to live, there is more chance of you seeing these prickly little creatures in your garden.
Whether you live in the town or country, you can help look after garden wildlife by putting out food, water and shelter.
Choose a shady and quiet location in the garden away from direct sunlight and harsh winds to put your hedgehog house and put dry leaves inside.
When the house has been vacated, usually late March to early April, clear out the house to prevent the build-up of pests.
Log piles or compost heaps are also good for providing a place for a hedgehog to rest with the added bonus of having lots of insects for them to eat.
An alternative option is to source a ready-made house from a reputable garden centre or online retailer.
Build an insect hotel
Leave twigs, rotting wood and rock piles in your garden. These will provide shelter for all sorts of important insects such as beetles and spiders.
Create a pond
A pond is a real boost for wildlife. It doesn’t have to be huge – you can use a buried bucket or trough. If you do want a big pond however, make sure there are sloping sides to help wildlife get in and out. A pond is best filled with unchlorinated rainwater from a water butt and planted with some native species.
Compost
A compost heap is a win-win: it gives you a way of turning waste into compost which will naturally enrich your soil, plus it may also provide a warm hiding place for many creatures including slow-worms. To avoid attracting rats, never add bread or other cooked food.
Why do hedgehogs and Bugs Matter
Hedgehogs are good at controlling garden pests, while insects, such as ladybugs and bees, play an essential role in pollination and pest management. Providing shelter for these animals can make a significant impact on their populations.
Creating or sourcing a hedgehog and bug house is a rewarding project that your garden and local wildlife can benefit from. By providing shelter, you can help ensure these important creatures thrive through the winter, paving the way for a healthier ecosystem in your garden come spring.
At Benita's Garden Services we specialise in seasonal one off maintenance and ongoing fortnightly, three weekly and monthly plans.
Contact Benita on:07891985701 or for more information visit our website: https://benitasgardenservices.co.uk
