Sheltered garden corner... wildlife encouragement help needed!

Jason Green · #1 (**permalink**) 01-03-2009, 08:20 PM

Hi All,

A quick question about encouraging wildlife into a sheltered garden corner...

I have a small square of ground in the garden that is kind of formed by being shielded off between the near-meeting of three sheds with the remaining side being a fence. It's under a tree and so a fair amount of natural light is obstructed from coming through and it often feels a degree or two cooler than the more sun-lit areas do. At the moment there are quite a lot of dead twigs/small branches from the tree covering a lot of the bare earth.

However, there is a Holly plant growing, about three stems now reaching about 12ins which I'm pretty pleased with, it's found nowhere else in the garden. It has never been planted here as far as I know, though it may be germinated from a neighbour's garden. There is also a small bramble plant that is small and mostly thin on the ground. There's a fair amount of Herb Robert in a corner, too.

Now, naturally weeding has to be done elsewhere in the garden so I want an area where these inverts can maybe relocate themselves. As with all gardens there are more wild areas which last year in mine had ant damsel-bugs, several ichneumons, different spiders, moths, etc. Also, I had 22-sp ladybirds breeding in two areas of the garden. I saw one coming out from hibernation yesterday so they may become established here and breed again this year, so I don't want to lose them when the brambles have to be cut back.

What I want to know is how I can attract as much wildlife into this area as possible. Can anyone suggest target species, any ways of attracting different invertebrate orders in, etc? Would a bee/butterfly feeding station be OK? Log piles? Would wood bark help? Grass seed? I'd like to introduce native UK wildflowers which apparently you can buy in seed-form, maybe planted in troughs or planters and base these around the edge. I'd also like a shrub or one or two of them small trees? You know what I mean...

With this all being under a tree are there any actual advantages with regards to the types of insects around?

I look forward to hearing your views!

Take care,

Jason

diggleken · #2 (**permalink**) 01-03-2009, 08:42 PM

Just a quick one Jason?
I'm sure others will add to, but it sounds poor growing area for flowers, so my best bet would be to get some very very rotten logs and bark (deciduous and fir based) and watch out for invertebrates, insects, fungi.
make some insect boxes to encourage them too - plus why not add a wetland/marshy area or a pool (never mind trying for fancy clean pond, just provide wateriness) and see what arrives.
And let us know?
Cheers
Ken

Jason Green · #3 (**permalink**) 01-03-2009, 08:56 PM

Thanks Ken, that's a part of it covered here. I intend to get about half the ground reverted back to bare earth and turn it over in the hope disturbing any seeds. I was thinking about 'wateriness' too.

I was thinking of adding a layer of compost in the hope of giving anything a fighting chance. I'll try a log pile/bark area as well...

I'm sure it's worth trying.

Jez · #4 (**permalink**) 01-03-2009, 09:11 PM

Hi Jason-Hows about a invert home like this one?

http://www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/ches...e_habitat2.pdf

Phoebe · #5 (**permalink**) 01-03-2009, 09:22 PM

That's a brilliant idea, I've never seen anything like it before. Hmm.... I'm thinking now....

Go for it Jason it's right up your street!

Hedgehoggy · #6 (**permalink**) 01-03-2009, 09:28 PM

What a fantastic structure there, Jez, I love it! I would never have considered 'building upwards', but it makes excellent use of a small unused space and looks fantastic too!

There you go Jason, that project should keep you out of mischief for a while!

*contemplates same project myself!*

Jason Green · #7 (**permalink**) 01-03-2009, 09:55 PM

Thanks Jez, food for thought there!

Jez · #8 (**permalink**) 01-03-2009, 10:10 PM

the standard euro pallet (ISO 1) is 800 mm x 1200mm just to give you the dimension. Might be worth asking around at plant nurseries for any unwanted ones if you think it's worth making!

Jez

Hedera · #9 (**permalink**) 01-03-2009, 10:15 PM

May I suggest a short piece of drainpipe under some logs to make a toad-hole? especially as it is a cool spot. Bark chippings are good, they rot down eventually but harbour insects and toadstools etc. Stand a bit of old treetrunk up against the shed as well for boring insects, wasps etc.

Jason Green · #10 (**permalink**) 02-03-2009, 04:05 PM

Hi all, thanks for the suggestions!

Photo showing most of the plot, it's about 7ftx3.

I'm planning on raking the surface then adding a layer of compost and seeing if anything should grow there as the ground is pretty hard and infertile-looking! KT17 has just identified an Opposite-leaved Golden Saxifrage and Goosegrass for me, and I have about 4-5 different Holly saplings too...

Soon I may get a trellis for the backwall and let a creeping plant cover it, experimentally at least. I've come across a packet of wildflower seeds that are suited to dense woodland which may suit it, I will grow them in planters.

Today I saw several barkflies and nymphs under the holly, 2x slugs that Adam ID'd as Deroceras caruanae and D. reticulatum, 2x centipedes, woodlice, spiders, springtails and a planthopper... early days, too!!

Thanks for reading, I'll keep you posted