Wildlife garden?

[k4t3]

I moved into a new home around February last year, and at last had a lovely big garden to play with! I love wildlife and want to encourage as much as possible to my garden. So I sat back to see what I already had and was amazed....around 20 species of birds, squirrels, hedgehogs, a fox and with a bit of strategic planting many butterfly larvae and some very impressive moths!
Now I want to build on that and was wondering what sort of plants will be the best to go for? I have large, established rowan and holly trees which are fantastic for the birds and last year planted lots of Nasturtiums for the White butterflies and Noctuid moths (who also went mad on the Dahlias and carnations!). Low growing cover like Lungwort also helped out with polyphagous moth larvae and the fuschias were instrumental in attracting the Elephant Hawk moths to lay! (I am a wildlife gardener, not a sprayer!)
For next year, so far, I have a Buddlia for the butterflies and am toying with the idea of some fruit trees for the cover and fruit for birds. Any more ideas? All welcomed

[aeshna5]

You don't mention whether you have a pond in your garden but that will make a huge difference (could be a problem if you have very young children though on safety grounds) for wildlife drinking/bathing as well as allowing amphibians, dragonflies + other insects to breed.

Compost heaps + log piles are also good for a wide range of animals.

If you go to the Wildlife Gardening section you'll find many recommendations for suitable plants as nectar sources, food plants, etc. Some natives are good, but many exotic plants can be good, but avoid over-bred fancy varieties such as double flowered forms.

[k4t3]

I don't have a pond but have plenty of room for one and not a hazard for children etc. Its something I have considered as there is quite a lot of aquatic habitat locally, and definately dragonflies, frogs, toads, herons around the area... At the bottom of my garden is a compost heap where locals tip their grass cuttings, this is undisturbed and possibly the source of my very healthy hedgehog community...all fed up in autumn with cat food!

[Beekeeper]

k4t3
If you have room to let a small area get totally overgrown and introduce some nettles as food for butterfly larve and a compost heap that is accessible to slow worms and grass snakes then you have made really good progress,also trees if you have the room, Willows, Lime, Sweet Chestnut are all great for nectar loving insects such as bees and many species of fly which of course will attract even more birds.

I would suggest a tropical rain forest as well but that would just be me getting carried away again, good luck anyway, its a shame there are not more folk like you who are prepared to do a small bit for our dwindling wildlife.


Ian

[Jez]

If it's possible to upload a photo of your garden in the wildlife gardening forum, then that help us to help you better with wildlife planting suggestions!

Only too keen to help - Jez

Edit: Now's not the best time to take a photo as it's thick as pea soup outside