Natural bird food for insectivores such as the Goldcrest - garden-worthy shrubs

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by King Edward

There's really very little evidence for the view that natives support more invertebrates (in gardens). That's not to say we should be encouraging aliens in the wider countryside, but the majority of garden plants (native or alien) are perfectly good for wildlife, and support a wide range of species. I'm all in favour of planting natives, but on the basis that they're also good garden plants - gorse, for instance, is not a great garden plant. And when it comes to herbaceous plants, the range of good garden natives is rather limited.

I was being specific to crests, which feed particularly on caterpillars and aphids/coccids etc both of these groups tend to be specialists. So if you went and planted a load of south america monkey puzzle trees in a garden or a load of scots pine its the scots pine which will support the food which the birds will feed on. I can see how none natives are good for nectar or for roosting but im really struggling to see how species native to britain can breed on species native to asia/africa et al. Herbacious plants have nothing to do with this thread as crests rarely feed on them.

Gorse grows fine in my garden. I have seen it in quite a few gardens provided they are well drained with sandy soils. Depends on the garden location, was simply offering advice.

[Deb London]

I do like the idea of a gorse plant.

[King Edward]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

So if you went and planted a load of south america monkey puzzle trees in a garden or a load of scots pine its the scots pine which will support the food which the birds will feed on.

That's quite true, although monkey puzzle is a completely alien species from a completely alien family (Araucariaceae) with no European relatives. Most garden plants, though, come from elsewhere in the Northern Hemisphere, and aren't that distantly related to native British/European species, and will support much of the same wildlife. If you were to compare a Spruce or Fir, say, or another pine species, with Scots Pine then I'd expect to see much less difference in invertebrate abundance. The RHS study I mentioned above is designed to look at difference between the wildlife value of near natives (N Hemisphere) vs distant aliens (Australia etc.) - should be interesting when they have some results.

Originally Posted by Dogghound

Herbacious plants have nothing to do with this thread as crests rarely feed on them.

Also true, that was more of a general point about natives/aliens.