Wildlife Section in Allotment help and stuff.

[Evilspartacus]

Originally Posted by Jez

Birds, Bees & Butterflies:-

Birds - Catsear, Common Sorrel, Opium Poppy, Lesser knapweed/Hard heads, Great burnet, Goatsbeard, Wild Salsify, Field scabious, Devils bit scabious & Greater hawkbit flowers.

Bees - Betony, Lesser Knapweed, Ox eye daisy, Red Clover, Self heal, Tufted Vetch & Wild Foxglove flowers.

Butterflies - Devils bit, Field & Small scabious, Garlc Mustard (also nice to add to salads ), Red Valerian, Birds foot trefoil, Kidney vetch, Agrimony, Common Sorrel, Horse shoe vetch, Nasturtium (best planted in the veggy patch), Hoary Plantain & various meadow grasses

oh eck lots of plants to get


Ta muchly.

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by Evilspartacus

We dont get too many midges here on the east side of Scotland so i maybe able to get away with it. Would butyl liner as Jez suggested be best to use for this or could i get away witha heavy duty black bin liner (Not thati'm a penny pinching Scot or anything ).

A woodpile is something I'm defintely going to do.

thanks for the advice.

No not a bin liner the cheaper pvc liners come with a 25yr guarantee so better to go for something that's made for the job just make sure yo line the whole well with sand and take out any stones you find or they will puncture the liner also build the edges up or you will get creases where the water runs and leaks from the pond.
I put bricks under my liner then turf like Jez said on top of the liner.

[Evilspartacus]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

Don't forget herbs bring in lots of wildlife while looking good and tasting good....

If you put a down pipe from the shed into the water butt you will have an endless supply of clean rainwater to top up the pond and water your plants.
You could have two water butts then..

I do have some herbs they border my wildlife section.

Actually i forgot what one of them is lol i'll take a pic another day so i can get some id help.

Great idea for the water butt it will save me walking all the way to the tap.

[Jez]

Originally Posted by Evilspartacus

oh eck lots of plants to get


Ta muchly.

Your meadow flowers are looking good already , just give a mow early spring with a rotary mower with an attachment to collect the clippings then another in September without the attachment to let seed shed and insects a chance to escape the cut and collect a few days after and use for hay or compost! Other wildflowers in the meantime will find there way in!

[Tursiops2]

Hi Evil.
Your wildlife area looks pretty good already .

A couple of suggestions: plant a Hazel for coppicing - as well as being good for wildlife, it will also supply you with beanpoles (see Allotment Forestry website Allotment Foresrty Home to Englands Woodland Products ). Are you free to plant climbers on the fences? If you are, then Honeysuckle, native Clematis, Hop, are all good for wildlife and will help shelter the plot. Also, put trellis up your shed for climbers, and maybe grow Ivy up that telephone pole.

I agree with others that butyl is greatly preferable as a pond liner.
T2

[Hedera]

Re bee and insect homes: attach some to the tree with wire, or on your shed high up near the roof. Your wildlife patch is going to be bigger than you first said!!

[Jez]

A bit more food for thought! Green Roof information for domestic roofs and shed roofs

[Evilspartacus]

Originally Posted by Hedera

Re bee and insect homes: attach some to the tree with wire, or on your shed high up near the roof. Your wildlife patch is going to be bigger than you first said!!

lol it'll end up being a wildlife allotment with a small fruit and veg section.

thanks for the advice on the homes i think i'll stick em up on the shed as the tree is a tad on the small side.

[Evilspartacus]

Originally Posted by Jez

A bit more food for thought! Green Roof information for domestic roofs and shed roofs

oohhh what an awesome idea.

[Evilspartacus]

Originally Posted by Tursiops2

Are you free to plant climbers on the fences? If you are, then Honeysuckle, native Clematis, Hop, are all good for wildlife and will help shelter the plot. Also, put trellis up your shed for climbers, and maybe grow Ivy up that telephone pole.

I don't think i would be allowed to put anything on the fences or the telephone pole unfortunately, but i will definitely get round to putting up a trellis on my shed do climbers need a lot of light.