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SPARE A THOUGHT FOR WILDLIFE
Back in January, Anna from Half An Acre invited me to write a short article to appear in the current edition of UK Handmade, a downloadable quarterly magazine. The content to be appropriate for the Spring season, tied in with the decline of insects and birdlife in UK gardens and how we might help.
'Spare a thought for wildlife and make space for nature in your garden. A large area isn’t essential, as in just a metre square a small wildlife sanctuary can be created.
Just by providing a feeding station and birdbath, or planting a tree or shrub will supply garden birds with food and water, nesting area and a safe haven free from predators, such as the neighbour’s cat!
A woodpile in a quiet area will attract beetles and many other insects, who will explore the nooks and crannies that appear once the wood starts to decompose. Frogs, toads and hedgehogs will discover the warm, dry space underneath, to hibernate until warmer weather arrives.
Encourage a small patch of stinging nettles, maybe a weed to us, but a great food source for ladybirds and butterflies. The latter will lay eggs on the leaves, which in turn provides food for any lodging hedgehog.
An old branch left amongst ivy makes a great perch for wrens, who love to bustle through the leaves looking for insects, and robins will use it too. Ivy produces berries, which one-by-one will be picked off by a hungry blackbird or thrush.
It’s easy, and by going wild, you too can help conserve the wonderful wildlife we have around us.'
An edited version of the above appears in the magazine on Page 30.
I have often wondered how I'd feel to have my own column. Thanks to Anna, now I kind of know!
See also Diana at Pebbledash for a delicious nettle soup recipe. A great way to encourage humans into your home!
15 comments:
As you know I'm all for encouraging wildlife, as I do on my plot. xx
Well done Louise, great little article, with sound advice.
Happy weekend to you.
D xox
Louise, this a great article that I plan to share with several friends. Thanks!
Gillian
this is a great article. I like to do this in my garden too - I've let a whole patch of nettles stay behind my garage and left the leaves and twigs over the winter on the ground. It's such fun to see the birds scrabbling through the leaves and I've got a noticeable amount more of wildlife in my garden since I did this. I've seen quite a few bumble bees so far this Spring too. Hugs, Catherine x
Me again...thanks so much for the link, Louise! I shall be making another saucepan full at easter... without telling the recipients what they're getting...taste first, reveal afterwards!!
Just popping in to say loved your article , I found it before I noticed you had linked it... I've never seen that magazine before - it's great
Lisa x
Congratulations on yoor article Louise. I shall be following your tips to make my garden a wildlife haven.
Well done Louise - sound advice and nicely put together :)
What a fab article Louise, I really enjoyed your post thanks for sharing.
I wish that was my vegetable garden Louise, but it was Queen Victoria’s
I wouldn’t say no to it though, think how much veg I could grow.
Have a lovely week-love Lou xxx
Nettle sure does sting! Great article...I knew you had it in you.
Now I'm off to click the links thank-you. xox
What a wonderful post Louise. We have been feeding the birds for years and love their company. Last summer I planted a butterfly bush and have my fingers crossed that it wintered over!
Keep up the good work.
its a good little article and congratulations on 'having your own column'!
Well done! Fab to be asked to write a column :)
Congratulations on your article!
I just put up a widget showing who has been on my blog, and you showed up on it. I enjoyed looking at your posts, and wanted to comment on this one, because I have been doing things to help the butterflies, birds, and such, but I am unhappy with the birds right now, because they are taking bites out of most of the tomatoes, just as they are about to be ripe. I have resorted to picking them when they first show color, because if I say I'm going to wait until evening, they will get to it first. I leave some of the ones they've pecked at on, and they seem to eat more of it later, but they still get to other ones, too. I hope you don't mind me venting.
I added some branches to my brush pile this morning. I'm trying to get a morning glory to grow over it, but it's slow growing. Maybe there isn't enough sun for it. I'd like to get some nettle started in there. I'm not sure where to get it, though. I should ask at our nature center. Maybe they'd let me collect some seeds from theirs.
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