http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums Looking at ways to build a miniature nature reserve in your back garden. en Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:58:16 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/wildlife-gardening/63171-echium-fatuosum.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:56:00 GMT Does anyone grow echium fatuosum? Is it good for attracting insects? Does anyone grow echium fatuosum? Is it good for attracting insects? ]]> Wildlife Gardening Susie http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/wildlife-gardening/63171-echium-fatuosum.html http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/wildlife-gardening/63063-repotting-oak.html Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:22:16 GMT i hav e a little english oak which i grew from an acorn about 5 yrs ago, its only about 30-40 cm tall, but very healthy. its been in a smallish pot for a good while now and i'm thinking of giving it a bigger home to see if it grows a little larger. whens the best time to do this without stressing it too much?

should i keep most of its original soil? i kind of want to because theres a Hebeloma mushroom which lives with it that pops up every year and don't want to damage the mycorhiza ]]> Wildlife Gardening thebeard http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/wildlife-gardening/63063-repotting-oak.html http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/wildlife-gardening/62664-ants-and-anthills.html Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:07:53 GMT We've got a couple of anthills in our garden that we've left alone, they're now about a foot high with grass growing through them. Trouble is we want to grow some vegetables, and the best place is where these anthills are.

Is there any way we can perhaps move them to another part of the garden, or is that a silly idea?

About how deep into the soil does an ant colony go?

Does anybody know what's likely to happen if we first flatten (take the top off) the the anthills and then double dig the area. Will it totally destroy the colony or could they sort of regroup and start again? ]]> Wildlife Gardening Elean0r http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/wildlife-gardening/62664-ants-and-anthills.html http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/wildlife-gardening/62487-advice-needed-planting-woodland-somerset.html Sat, 31 Oct 2009 13:30:54 GMT For my Dad's 60th B'day he is planting a smallish woodland (1-2 acres)in Sommerset. He has been advised/ had a plan drawn up by somebody who is proposing to plant mainly Sycamores, I am rather sceptical of this being the right choice, as i believe these to be the trees which ooze lots of sap and have been advised that Sycamores are like weeds which self plant and can be a pain, also that they create a very dark floor to the woodland.

I know my Dad is keen on Beech trees, though i know nothing of their pros and cons. I do know he would ideally like to have some bluebells established. I know he will plant just a few oaks (for the future which will be slower growing)

I particularly love trees which have low branching, possibly known as 'forked trees' and would love to include a few of these, does anyone know how this is possible?

Most of the trees are being transplanted, but obviously things to be considered are; how easy a tree is to establish and speed of growth. We hope that the woodland can be enjoyed for many years by my Dad and is something that will mature and flourish for the future.

I would be very grateful for advice on which trees to select. ]]> Wildlife Gardening emilytree http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/wildlife-gardening/62487-advice-needed-planting-woodland-somerset.html http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/wildlife-gardening/62136-wildlife-garden.html Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:14:29 GMT I have just bought my first house and now have the official move in date of the 2nd November. My first task is to sort out the garden, currently it is a very bare 'show' garden with little vegitation.

My initial plan of action is to plant a few trees and shrubs to attract birds and provide cover for them. Then i also plan to introduce a wildlife pond. But seeing as i'm completely new to gardening as living with my parents for my whole life i've never got involved in it so i have a few novice questions.

Firstly when is the best time to plant trees? I've heard about now is as good as any? Secondly which trees and plants are best to attract birds?

With the wildlife pond when would be the best time of year to start it? The winter? I've already got a shortlist of plants having read through numerous wildlife pond threads on here, i will also try to incorporate a bog of some sort. The plants i was thinking of are as follows

Water Starwort
Elodea Canadensis
Water Crowfoot
Yellow Flag Iris
Ragged Robin in the bog
Frogbit
Water Solidier

Does this seem acceptable?

Any suggestions or advice would be much appreciated.

Cheers
Paul ]]> Wildlife Gardening Jeapesy http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/wildlife-gardening/62136-wildlife-garden.html http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/wildlife-gardening/62090-berries-poisonous-birds.html Wed, 21 Oct 2009 19:51:17 GMT A Solanum capsicastrum plant has self-seeded in my garden: Image: http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/archive/data/31/thumbs/solanum3.jpg (http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/archive/showphoto.php?photo=115504) This has prompted several questions in my mind. Is this plant poisonous to birds?... A Solanum capsicastrum plant has self-seeded in my garden:



This has prompted several questions in my mind.

Is this plant poisonous to birds? I can only find incomplete and vague answers on the Internet.

Also, are there any other berries that are potentially poisonous to birds?

If there are, I was wondering if/how birds learn to avoid them in the wild.

:confused: ]]> Wildlife Gardening AshLee http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/wildlife-gardening/62090-berries-poisonous-birds.html http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/wildlife-gardening/61923-ground-cover-dry-clay.html Sat, 17 Oct 2009 16:51:33 GMT I am looking for a ground cover plant that will grow on a *very dry clay* soil in a certain area of my garden. The soil is so dry that even drought tolerant grass struggles. The site is *sunny* so light levels are not a problem. The more wildlife friendly, the better. Thanks in advance. I am looking for a ground cover plant that will grow on a very dry clay soil in a certain area of my garden. The soil is so dry that even drought tolerant grass struggles. The site is sunny so light levels are not a problem. The more wildlife friendly, the better.

Thanks in advance. ]]> Wildlife Gardening AshLee http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/wildlife-gardening/61923-ground-cover-dry-clay.html http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/wildlife-gardening/61657-pyracantha-variety.html Sun, 11 Oct 2009 10:36:05 GMT Hi,
I've recently moved house and have a garden for the first time. Its fairly small, and the previous owner decked the lot which I've now removed. I'd like to see if I can get more (in fact any) wildlife to use the garden so am looking for (amongst other things) a pyracantha to grow up one fence. I've been looking on the web for varieties which are particularly good for birds, but am now totally confused! Some websites suggest "mohave red", others say the birds won't touch mohave and suggest "orange glow", whilst still others say the birds don't like orange berries and suggest "red column". Can anyone advise me on which one to get?!

Also, does anyone know of an evergreen cotoneaster, which could also be trained up a fence?

best wishes,
Samaith ]]> Wildlife Gardening samaith http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/wildlife-gardening/61657-pyracantha-variety.html http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/wildlife-gardening/61392-summer-and-autumn-clash.html Sun, 04 Oct 2009 09:59:34 GMT HI There, Im a self employed gardener and Im VERY busy just now as the grass and hedges are still growing and now people are wanting their leaves raked up at the same time.Maybe its as well because leaves are much easier handled when newly fallen than when wet.:) Regards Les HI There,
Im a self employed gardener and Im VERY busy just now as the grass and hedges are still growing and now people are wanting their leaves raked up at the same time.Maybe its as well because leaves are much easier handled when newly fallen than when wet.:)
Regards Les ]]> Wildlife Gardening Les E http://www.wildaboutbritain.co.uk/forums/wildlife-gardening/61392-summer-and-autumn-clash.html