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24-12-2006, 08:58 AM
|  | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: N.E.SOMERSET
Posts: 6,822
| | | My Garden has no Wildlife so I do not feel I can join in
I was spreading the gospel to a lady in a computer store,she was buying a DSLR and nvolved me (as an innocent passer-by) in her purchase much to the initial amusement of the pushy salesman
I spoke knowledgeably(thanks chaps) about digi-cameras and her chosen subject, wild life, resulting in a purchase and a promise to look at WAB although she did not have foxes or Badgers in her garden (half an acre) so she went to places like slimbridge etc.
She actually felt inadequate because she did not have large mammals in her garden
I explained the A-Z of garden wildlife and she seemed reassured,but still came back to the fact that there were no large animals
How many of our members or visitors feel inadequate in this respect?
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You cannot maintain an ecology, if you lose any of the pieces. |
24-12-2006, 09:09 AM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Scunthorpe, Nth Lincs
Posts: 1,736
| | | Re: My Garden has no Wildlife so I do not feel I can join in
Not at all. We only have a small suburban garden. No large animals at all, but if you look close its amazing the number of creatures in it. I think there may be a family of mice under the decking, but I dare n't tell HiD, she'd go loopy. 
__________________ Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana. Nature Photo's |
24-12-2006, 09:44 AM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Berkshire
Posts: 1,816
| | | Re: My Garden has no Wildlife so I do not feel I can join in
Quote:
Originally Posted by nightshade  She actually felt inadequate because she did not have large mammals in her garden | Large mammals can be a real pain in a garden. Yes, they are lovely to watch but if you are a serious gardener, the last thing you want is Rabbits and Badgers digging holes in your lawn or deer eating all your flowers. In the middle of summer I have virtually nothing flowering in my garden due to everything "pretty" being eaten 
There is plenty of other wildlife that you can attract to a small garden without large mammals. She should stick to birds, butterflies, dragonflies, etc.
Jenny |
24-12-2006, 12:30 PM
| | New Member | | Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 2
| | | Re: My Garden has no Wildlife so I do not feel I can join in
When I started gardening I had large animals a plenty, but after a year of watching Rabbits out of my bedroom window I realised that if my wild life garden wanted any of the garden part, some of the wild life would need to be excluded. Up went the fence and at last I had flowers , was able to grow my own veg. This year a storm blew the fence down and with in a day the local muntjac had nibbled away all my brussel sprouts. Now I know some of you may not think that a bad thing. but I was rather looking forward to having them for Christmas dinner. I guess you need to decide your priorities. |
24-12-2006, 12:44 PM
|  | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Small North Lincolnshire village
Posts: 7,278
| | | Re: My Garden has no Wildlife so I do not feel I can join in
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tormentil Not at all. We only have a small suburban garden. No large animals at all, but if you look close its amazing the number of creatures in it. I think there may be a family of mice under the decking, but I dare n't tell HiD, she'd go loopy. | Same here but without the mice. Wouldn't expect to have large animals in our garden as it's not big enough, however we do get a good variety of birds visiting the feeders so in some respects this compensates.
Roger |
26-12-2006, 09:34 PM
|  | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Broad hinton - thats in wiltshire
Posts: 8,255
| | | Re: My Garden has no Wildlife so I do not feel I can join in
I want to have a moooooooose in my back garden.... but sadly there isnt space - its antlers would get tangled in the roses anyway
I would have thought that folks could join in even if there are no large animals in the garden , or even if they dont have a garden - wildlife is all around us even in the depths of urban hell so everybody must have something they can get involved with even if it is just the squirells in the local park.
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26-12-2006, 11:08 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 1,368
| | | Re: My Garden has no Wildlife so I do not feel I can join in
In our old garden we had quite a few big visitors; Badgers, foxes, deer and so on. Nothing much can get into my garden here although I leave a gap incase a Hedgehog should be passing. Unfortunately the biggest critter i get are cats and the occassional squirrel. I'm alarmed by the amount of stray ferrets about/posters for missing ferrets/ferrets on leads. I want to keep a few hens in the garden next year so I may have to make the garden ferret proof.
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27-12-2006, 10:59 PM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Peoples Democratic Republic of South Cheshire
Posts: 1,248
| | | Re: My Garden has no Wildlife so I do not feel I can join in
This makes me think of my cat loving sister, her cats are confined to her small garden and she wonders and moans about why so few birds come to her bird table and feeders.
Sensible birds I think! |
28-12-2006, 09:27 AM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: East Kent
Posts: 1,356
| | | Re: My Garden has no Wildlife so I do not feel I can join in
I am just trying to create an environment where nature will feel at home, and waiting to see what appears. 
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If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. |
28-12-2006, 09:28 AM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: East Kent
Posts: 1,356
| | | Re: My Garden has no Wildlife so I do not feel I can join in
Snipe would be nice!
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If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. |
28-12-2006, 10:49 AM
|  | Wild Member | | Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Buckley, N.Wales
Posts: 179
| | | Re: My Garden has no Wildlife so I do not feel I can join in
I have little activity in my back garden. We did get the birds but since the trees have gone from the neighbours they have taken a shine to our loft instead - and we'll be sorting out that problem next year. As for large animals, our dog is the only one that gets a chance to roam it, and having closed gardens on all sides nothing but the squirrels have access.
The most interesting wildlife we get are the insects and Bats that come to feast on them. Our garden is a working progress and hopefully our choie of flowers will eventually bring in the butterflies.
Forgot to mention the frogs/toads - they love the piles of stones and overgrown grass. |
28-12-2006, 11:14 AM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: N.E.SOMERSET
Posts: 6,822
| | | Re: My Garden has no Wildlife so I do not feel I can join in
I have a nice new bat box (a schwegler 1FF) big enough for a colony
now all I need are the bats!for such a small garden I do get lots of
wildlife
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You cannot maintain an ecology, if you lose any of the pieces. |
28-12-2006, 09:27 PM
| | New Member | | Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 13
| | | Re: My Garden has no Wildlife so I do not feel I can join in
I live right out in the sticks, have a fairly big garden, but large wildlife seldom visits. I think you just need to make the most of what you have, and enjoy it. Then get out and see the bigger stuff elsewhere. |
28-12-2006, 09:43 PM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: N.E.SOMERSET
Posts: 6,822
| | | Re: My Garden has no Wildlife so I do not feel I can join in
This is the crux,do not miss what you have longing for something
which aint going to happen, enjoy what you have
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You cannot maintain an ecology, if you lose any of the pieces. |
28-12-2006, 09:53 PM
| | Active Member | | Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 25
| | | Re: My Garden has no Wildlife so I do not feel I can join in
being a keen veggie gardener i'm having running battles with deer... its not i dont enjoy them but the veg and bushes suffer so much..also i try to stop my dog from escaping but as fast as i make it dog proof the deer just head butt and eat their way through the hedges.. so i sympathise with all of you that have to admit to not wanting deer in your garden. I need to be self sufficient as far as i'm able to be..and as much as i love all wildlife...i so wish the deer didnt love my garden! |
28-12-2006, 10:03 PM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: East Kent
Posts: 1,356
| | | Re: My Garden has no Wildlife so I do not feel I can join in
Having hardly ever seen deer, I'd love them, Anusha, but I'm sure if they were commonplace, I might feel differently. I haven't once wished the Badgers away for the sake of the lawn, though, but it does look a bit like a war zone! 
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If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. |
29-12-2006, 02:17 AM
| | Active Member | | Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 25
| | | Re: My Garden has no Wildlife so I do not feel I can join in
Quote:
Originally Posted by badgerwatcher Having hardly ever seen deer, I'd love them, Anusha, but I'm sure if they were commonplace, I might feel differently. I haven't once wished the Badgers away for the sake of the lawn, though, but it does look a bit like a war zone! | i wouldnt wish the deer away if it was just a case of wanting a pristine lawn. i wouldnt mind Badgers making a mess either.. but i'm trying to do the back to basics life and provide myself with food. I am surrounded by countryside and there are many deer here..and even when they are damaging my crops i enjoy watching them....but as soon as they are gone i'm out trying to patch up yet another part of my damaged hedge..I dont want barbed wire or wooden fences so i just hope they'll eventualy move on. |
29-12-2006, 07:57 AM
| | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: East Kent
Posts: 1,356
| | | Re: My Garden has no Wildlife so I do not feel I can join in
I wasn't critisizing, Anusha. Just envious of your deer!
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If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. |
29-12-2006, 08:54 AM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: N.E.SOMERSET
Posts: 6,822
| | | Re: My Garden has no Wildlife so I do not feel I can join in
Quote:
Originally Posted by anusha being a keen veggie gardener i'm having running battles with deer... its not i dont enjoy them but the veg and bushes suffer so much..also i try to stop my dog from escaping but as fast as i make it dog proof the deer just head butt and eat their way through the hedges.. so i sympathise with all of you that have to admit to not wanting deer in your garden. I need to be self sufficient as far as i'm able to be..and as much as i love all wildlife...i so wish the deer didnt love my garden! | Anusha there could be a way plant berbris!
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You cannot maintain an ecology, if you lose any of the pieces. |
29-12-2006, 10:40 AM
| | Active Member | | Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 25
| | | Re: My Garden has no Wildlife so I do not feel I can join in
Quote:
Originally Posted by badgerwatcher I wasn't critisizing, Anusha. Just envious of your deer! | I didnt think you were critisizing badgerwatcher...i'm so sorry if i sounded defensive.. and i do love deer too...just not when they eat my food
and Nightshade..thankyou for the tip...i'll certainly look it up..i didnt realize there was anything i could plant that was deerproof |
29-12-2006, 10:40 AM
|  | Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Letchworth Garden City
Posts: 1,208
| | | Re: My Garden has no Wildlife so I do not feel I can join in
Quote:
Originally Posted by badgerwatcher Having hardly ever seen deer, I'd love them, Anusha, but I'm sure if they were commonplace, I might feel differently. I haven't once wished the Badgers away for the sake of the lawn, though, but it does look a bit like a war zone! | When we visited this house before we bought it we were entranced by the sight of deer lying on the lawn under the pear tree. It was only afterwards we realised how little we would be able to grow that wouldn't end up as deer fodder. At least the ongoing contest between us and the deer for the flowers and vegetables keeps us occupied 
Not sure why anyone should feel embarrassed about not having large mammals in the garden. What comes, comes. All you can do is make it as welcoming as your conditions allow. I'd like Otters in the pond, but I'm not hopeful.... |
29-12-2006, 10:53 AM
| | Active Member | | Join Date: Dec 2006
Posts: 25
| | | Re: My Garden has no Wildlife so I do not feel I can join in
Quote:
Originally Posted by smartie When we visited this house before we bought it we were entranced by the sight of deer lying on the lawn under the pear tree. It was only afterwards we realised how little we would be able to grow that wouldn't end up as deer fodder. At least the ongoing contest between us and the deer for the flowers and vegetables keeps us occupied | Ahhh....it was a similar thing with me...when i first viewed this place there was a deer in the garden and i also had no idea how determined they would be to keep their territory. If you find a solution i'm all ears |
29-12-2006, 10:54 AM
|  | Officer of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Gloucestershire
Posts: 687
| | | Re: My Garden has no Wildlife so I do not feel I can join in
We have an invisible Fox!
We hear his(?) BarkBarkBark calls in the garden at night every now and then so we've started leaving a bowl of dog food down for him at night. Its usually all gone by morning. Picky little bloke, doesn't like the beef flavours only the chicken based ones.
It could be some other animal eating it but foxy leaves that amazing scented calling card which regularly wafts up powerfully from the bushes near where we leave the dish, so I dare say its him.
Never seen him though  |
29-12-2006, 11:28 AM
| | Knight Commander of the Wild Empire | | Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: N.E.SOMERSET
Posts: 6,822
| | | Re: My Garden has no Wildlife so I do not feel I can join in
I have a photo of our garden just after we moved in,all grass with a columnar
cherry tree and a single rosebush in a conical hole.The rosebush had a single
tap root and the wind was blowing it around and around hence the conical hole
The grass was not a lawn but a series of coarse tussocks,it cried out for attention
We cleared the lot and seeded the whole area with rye-grass.The first time it was
cut we had to stop, the grass was full of small frogs so we dug a small pond.
The next day as we sat and congratulated ourselves the cat brought me a sloworm
so we piled up all the stones we had cleaned up from the garden added some gravel
to give it a home.
To cut a long story short (over 22 years of it!) every time we took the trouble to
look there was something else equally fascinating, we planted a Rowan,a weeping Birch
the pond grew,the "lawn" gave way gradually to borders stuffed with flowers even more wildlife arrived then the Sparrows disappeared and the garden changed again in order to
try and bring them back
The garden is 8 fence panels x 4 fence panels not big by any means just used to best effect
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