hotel wildlife ideas please!

[AnnMercia]

Hotel Wildlife Ideas Please!

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Hello all,

I help to run an organic hotel in the centre of the lakes -
We're trying our best to be as organic and eco friendly as we can (we just got five stars!!!!!!!) and at the mo we're looking on how to attrat wildlife to the hotel.

BASICALLY the hotel is in a village location, with fells and woods around the village. There are very mature mixed trees across the road from us. The main place we're thinking of is at the front of the hotel, and around the car park.....What should I buy people!??!? I was thinking of the following:

-Herbs and lavender for around the car park (please if you know of any good looking wildlife plants let me know!)

- bat boxes - (where should I put these!??)

- bird boxes,


any other ideas???

Cheers now

annx

[Meles meles]

Being in cumbria I am surprised that you dont already see lots of wildlife. I think my first step would be to know exactly what wildlife is local to you, and as to who you actualy want to encourage. With some bugs,birds mammals etc it may be worth your time and efforts to study what plants etc are preferred or indeed are neccesary requirements.

Remember though being a place of food etc, You do want to be careful as to what you encourage. I remember being a relief chef in oxford. The owner was trying to encourage birds and squrrels, instead he was eventualy troubled by rats and pigeons.

For example . . . Insects, bees, lace wings etc, You can find ideas on building their homes on the internet. (personaly I would build them keeping things natural and tidy looking)

Birds, bats etc again I would build their homes but where i would locate them in areas where your guests can watch them from your garden / patio area.

Mice hedgehogs etc, I am sure that with in your grounds you already have some great possibilities for homes. Maybe by opening up a few of the gaps etc

As for Plants I would keep to native species, They could help attract all the above, and the required food sources (bugs etc) I would have a wild meadow as well full of native wild plants to attract guests such as Butterflys and ladybirds.

Herbs: First point would be to ask your chef as to what his requirements may be. Again remembering hotels i previously worked in. It was an all round appreciation in spreading groups of herbs around, The colours, smells etc can be appreciated on and off the plate (LOL)

Out of curiosity, at the moment do you grow your own veg etc?? Amazing difference in the pleasures people have knowing that they are eating locally sourced / grown foods.

It is a hard one though, knowing your trade and at a 5* level as well.

Good luck

[Gill Catton]

wow what a fab opportunity....!!

Yes herbs herbs herbs!! both in a kitchen garden but also within boarders, butterflies love them - particularly marjoram and lavender.

Go for a walk in your local area preferably within a wildlife trust reserve, note down and photograph species you find attractive and suitable for a garden and use these within flowerbeds - generally native species support more species - though a good buddleia is a good idea too.

Also I'd recommend some kind of water feature as this will attract birds, dragonflies and possibly amphibians - you could include possible pond dipping acitivies in conjuction with local wildlife associations and guests children?

Rockery style gardens built on a pile or rocks with associated cracks and crevices near a pond will provide good safe nooks and cfrannys for hibernating or shelering amphibians and reptiles.

Berry producing shrubs to feed and attract birds to your garden and personally I love bird feeders visible from the breakfast room especially when eating alone gives you something lovely to watch.

Bird boxes can be put on trees for species of tits or robin remember to put them out of reach for predators or curious peopl, avoid facing them into the prevailing wind or in full sunshine and this should be fine. Nestboxes can be put under the eaves for house sparrows and you can try housemartin nest 'cups' or swift nest boxes under the eaves too but the success can be limited for these. Bat boxes can be erected in a number of places simillar advice as for birds with regard to location.

Suitable holes and cracks/crevices could if you're feeling adventurous be built into a sculpture which id placed by the pond and flower garden may tempt guests over to have a closer look (not sure how big your garden is!)

If you are away from main roads (over 2km at least) and are near fields, it might be worth putting a barn owl box up - you never know your luck!!

There are lots of good ideas at:

RSPB - Wildlife Care


Other suppliers are available and you can probably find many products on Ebay too....

[Meles meles]

annmercia

Any updates on this??
Interested to hear what your hotel does,

Curiosity castrated the cat (sounds better than killed) but what hotel is it??

[AnnMercia]

Ah Ha! I Was Just Thinking About Posting An Update! We Have Installed Bat Boxes And Bird Boxes, And A Bird Feeding Station - Have Sent Off For Some Wildlife Gardening Books Also - So Things Are Going Very Well! Ill Try And Get Some Photos Of Them On Here For You All

[AnnMercia]

SORRY - FROGOT TO MENTION WHAT THE HOTEL IS CALLED! moss grove IN GRASMERE

[Meles meles]

sounds good,

Take it your at work then?? haha

[AnnMercia]

Caught Red Handed Am Afraid. I Have Just Packed Breakfast Away - Now Just Going Out To Feed Birds. I'll Have To Keep Tabs On Who Comes To The Feeder - Ill Pop Them On Here

[AnnMercia]

birds so far
yesterday had two great-tits that returned all day, a couple of blue-tits, a very scruffy coal tit and a jackdaw

today so far i have spotted those great-tits again, the blue-tits and a nuthatch (lovely!) should be getting my camera out on my tea break!

[Meles meles]

do they need any staff??

Sounds like you got a good number there.