Wild Daisies for Wildlife  August 2007  Are you bored with begonias, fed up with fuchsias or tired of tagetes?  If so, just look to our native plants for inspiration and something a little different.  Wildflower gardening becomes ever more fashionable and not only offers us some much needed variety but by planting native species we can ensure that our gardens will be well used by wildlife.  The wild daisies, or Compositae family have already come under our scrutiny but there are plenty more valuable plants that did not feature in our last round up of this useful family.   Read more......

Encourage butterflies to breed in your garden  July 2009  There has been much in the media over the last few months about the effect our last two disastrously wet summers have had on UK butterfly populations.  Surveys carried out by the organisation Butterfly Conservation have revealed that even our most common species, including the garden favourite the small tortoiseshell, have declined dramatically in some cases to the point of causing concern about their long term survival.  Those most at risk are butterflies that already have small populations in isolated locations such as the high brown fritillary, species whose requirements are very specific including the black hairstreak or butterflies on the very edge of their natural range, the swallowtail being an example.   Read more......

Grow foxgloves for wildlife  June 2009   It is well known amongst experienced wildlife gardeners that there are certain groups of plants that are special insect attractants.  Sometimes every plant in a family is designed to be pollinated by insects; in other groups there may be the odd one or two plants that are special in this way.  If a family of plants attracts insects in abundance and has a great range of beautiful garden worthy flowers, including a few natives, we are on to a winner.  Generally these special plants are unadulterated in their structure – single blossoms rather than double, and many are wildflowers in their native homeland.   Read more.....

Living with perennial weeds   May 2009  Is there any gardener who hasn’t got, or had in the past, a problem with perennial weeds?  Even the smallest garden can be beset with couch grass and dandelions galore, with ground elder or creeping thistle invading every border.  In fact in a small garden in a terrace with gardens on either side (that may not be well cared for), the problem can be a nightmare.  These plants can spread through from neighbouring gardens on either side regardless of monumental efforts to keep them out.  How do we deal with these thugs?  Can we eliminate them, or do we need to learn how to cope with them and even appreciate their tenacity?     Read more.......

Grow wildlife friendly container plants  April 2009  In these water conscious days, the practice of having lots of pots and containers around our gardens is something we need to consider carefully for a variety of reasons, however much they may enhance our outdoor spaces.  Bedding plants have come under fire in recent times for being very wasteful of a variety of resources, plus the trial of the evening watering routine is something many of us look forward to with a certain amount of dread.  All too often though, we may forget this task until late in the day, when it is no longer a pleasure but simply one more thing to add to our list of regular jobs.    Read more......

Grow some seaside wildflowers   March 2009  Most gardeners, even those who are not naturally inclined towards gardening in an environmentally friendly way, now appreciate that cultivating  a few wildflowers can bring huge benefits to the wildlife in and around our gardens.  Amongst the large number of wildflowers now available in garden centres and nurseries, foxgloves, scabious, primroses, poppies and knapweed are voted as the nation’s favourites, but the British flora provides us with a huge selection of wonderful flowers that can enhance any garden, providing we chose those that are happy in our conditions.    Read more......

Plant a Wildlife Friendly Herb Garden   February 2009   Back in the dim and distant past the herb garden was considered to be a necessity among those who actually had a garden.  These days an area of fragrant edible ‘herbs’ can sometimes be unfairly relegated to a corner of an ornamental border, or a few herbs may be grown alongside vegetables on the edge of an allotment.  But these plants are wonderful in their own right and are hugely attractive to wildlife; they deserve pride of place in any plot.  A dedicated herb border can make a real statement as it positively buzzes with life for many months of the year.   Read more.....,

Making a Mini-Woodland   January 2009   Creating dedicated small wildlife areas in a garden, or at least giving a passing nod to the idea of so called ‘mini-habitats’ for wildlife, has always been one of the keys to encouraging a range of creatures to our gardens.  Couple this with ensuring that the whole area is wildlife friendly and managed organically wherever possible and you could be well on the well to making the perfect wildlife garden.  However the concept of creating a woodland habitat is a rather an intimidating prospect for most of us, yet a contained shady area is known to be brilliant for attracting a wide variety of creatures including birds and mammals.   Read more......

Native Shrubs in your Garden   December 2008    The native versus non-native argument is one that has existed as long as wildlife gardening has been popular, yet there has been little research, indeed there is little evidence, to suggest that native is best in the garden as far as attracting wildlife is concerned.  In general the key to a well populated wildlife gardening that buzzes with life is to ensure great diversity in both native and non-native plants, whether they are herbaceous perennials, annuals, trees or shrubs.  However some recent work by the British Trust for Ornithology suggests that given the choice, birds prefer to nest in native shrubs.    Read more...

Winter Homes for Insects  November 2008  As winter approaches do you look forward to the first glimpse of a brimstone butterfly or anticipate the friendly drone of a queen bumblebee in the spring?  If you do, and which gardener doesn’t, then this is the time to make sure that the insects and other invertebrates that have chosen to reside in your garden have somewhere safe to spend the winter.  Many of the smaller garden creepy crawlies don’t make it through the colder weather, indeed many invertebrates have life cycles that mean the majority of that particular species are not designed to see another spring.    Read more......

Growing Wild Willowherbs and Loosestrifes  October 2007   Wildflowers, like all other types of flowering plant, come in many shapes and sizes.  Some of the most useful plants for providing height and structure in a garden are those that are tall and stately with long spikes of colourful flowers.  In my garden plants such as lupins and foxgloves perform this function admirably, but as I prefer to include a few native plants wherever I can, even in the more formal borders, I always try to find space for wildflowers or their close relatives and varieties.  This month we are looking at two groups of wild plants that also have varieties or ‘cousins’ which are very suitable for garden cultivation, providing colour over a long period and they have great wildlife value too.   Read more.....

Make a Flowery Lawn  September 2006  After, hopefully, a productive but relatively leisurely time in the garden through mid summer, we should now be in the mood for a new project.  Late summer and early autumn are good times for planning and embarking on changes in the garden, as the weather cools and rain refreshes both plants and soil.  Thoughts of improvements are still in our minds and best acted upon whilst the enthusiasm is with us!  This is also a good time to sow seeds, especially those of some of our native wildflowers, and to plant bulbs, so a perfect project as the summer winds down is to create a flowery lawn.    Read more.....

Bumblebees in the Garden  August 2004   They have attractive striped furry bodies, a pleasant droning buzz that we associate with lazy summer weather, and they pollinate our fruit and vegetables.  It’s no wonder many of us love bumblebees and want to do our best to help them in our gardens.  And it’s timely that we should have that attitude, as many of our native bumblebee species continue to decline as their natural habitats and food sources in the countryside disappear.  Information on the number of bumblebee species in Britain varies – at least two species have become extinct in recent years.     Read more.....