the importance of YOUR garden

nightshade · #1 (**permalink**) 14-04-2006, 09:03 PM

Did you know that the patchwork of urban gardens in this country covers a greater area than all the nature reserves in this country!
This why YOUR garden and what you grow in it is so important to the survival of Wildlife:
Nectar giving flowers to feed the Butterflies, Moths, pollinating Bees etc.
Trees and shrubs for nest sites and roosts
Water to drink and bathe in, for amphibians to live in
Log piles and rough undisturbed areas for Hedgehogs, Sloworms,,Grassnakes,Newts,Frogs and Toads
YOUR help in your garden will make a difference

Mark43 · #2 (**permalink**) 14-04-2006, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nightshade

Did you know that the patchwork of urban gardens in this country covers a greater area than all the nature reserves in this country!
This why YOUR garden and what you grow in it is so important to the survival of Wildlife:
Nectar giving flowers to feed the Butterflies, Moths, pollinating Bees etc.
Trees and shrubs for nest sites and roosts
Water to drink and bathe in, for amphibians to live in
Log piles and rough undisturbed areas for Hedgehogs, Sloworms,,Grassnakes,Newts,Frogs and Toads
YOUR help in your garden will make a difference

Amen to that nightshade.

Most people won't realise how just a few little things or changes can be of such a great help to wildlife.

nightshade · #3 (**permalink**) 14-04-2006, 09:41 PM

I did forget the compost heap,I have been told to move mine (by the lioness) I know there are wood mice and mice that I took to be Yellow necked (the two do look different) I am happy to provide shelter for either or both,and am looking forward to finding out what else may be there,grassnake,sloworm?

John · #4 (**permalink**) 14-04-2006, 10:32 PM

We only moved here Nov 2004 and the garden was a wasteland and hadn't been looked after for years. We have completely turned the garden around and have done it with wildlife in mind.

I have just found one bonus today in the shape of a smooth newt that I found in our pond. We have quite a few frogs in the pond also and many birds that visit us on a daily basis.

If you like your wildlife you must try and devise a garden that will accomodate it. It is a great feeling when you see just what you can find when you have done it right.

John

Wild-Woman · #5 (**permalink**) 14-04-2006, 10:46 PM

My garden is a rambling 'mess' as my neighbour would call it.But my garden is full of life.It's like an open aviary,its an insects heaven, the foxes meeting place,the newts winter hideaway,the grass snakes sun trap, the hedgehogs larder and it's my very own nature reserve and I love it!
My husband commented the other day that when he drove along our road he noticed that of all the houses,ours was the only one that had about a dozen birds sitting on the tv aerial.
That's because there's rich pickings in the garden. I have 10 feeders dotted here and there and two bird baths and a bird table.
My project in the summer is meadow flowers. The seeds are ready and once they flower I'm going to let the seed drop wherever it wants.I also have a second pond in mind,just for wildlife. Great stuff. ww

nightshade · #6 (**permalink**) 15-04-2006, 08:46 AM

I have discovered that at least three neighbours have bought binoculars for Christmas in order to watch my garden birds the one attached complained when I was a little slow to fill the feeders as he had visitors who wanted to see the Goldfinches (bl**dy cheek)
I have swayed another who was going to cut down three old apple trees and fill in a pond,which was teeming with life,the trees are being pruned and have taken on a new lease of life along with a promise to grow honeysuckles up them

Helen · #7 (**permalink**) 15-04-2006, 10:13 AM

My garden has had a deer giving birth in it last week. I witnessed the whole event.

The fawn is still there. I have the whole episode on film and as photographs.

Alan · #8 (**permalink**) 15-04-2006, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Helen

My garden has had a deer giving birth in it last week. I witnessed the whole event.

The fawn is still there. I have the whole episode on film and as photographs.

Hello Helen, not heard from you for a while, nice to have you back. Look foreward to your images - am I right in thinking they'll be of the Muntjac's?

Helen · #9 (**permalink**) 16-04-2006, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan

Hello Helen, not heard from you for a while, nice to have you back. Look foreward to your images - am I right in thinking they'll be of the Muntjac's?

Yes, they are Muntjacs.

Regards

lyndy loo · #10 (**permalink**) 17-04-2006, 04:58 PM

Wow deer in the garden. We have spotted a family of deer in our field at the back of the house but not this year alas. But head of the heard was a white stag and he was amazing to look at.

I agree with the garden bit. Our neighbour (the only one for a mile or so) is an avid gardener and has to have things just so but ours is more of a fend for itself garden. I mow the lawn but leave bits wild (too much to keep in tow anyway) and I regularly put out water and food for the birds. Last year we had a family of woodpeckers frequenting the bird nuts and I am determined to take more piccies. We need to look after the wildlife. Saw my first bee-fly today and wow! Nearly as amazing as a hummingbird-moth we saw in South of France last year.