What is essential in a small wildlife garden?

[Susie]

I am making plans for a small wildlife garden and I wonder what is essential? Obviously I want a pond but is there anything else you could suggest I incorporate?

[nightshade]

What sort of space Susie? Log pile, earth and stone bank/pile, Seat at vantage point

[aeshna5]

Plenty of nectar -rich plants for the insects + they don't all have to be native. A herb garden is good for bees, butterflies, hoverflies, etc. Compost heaps are a magnet for all sorts from woodlice, centipedes, etc to amphibians, Grass Snakes if you're really lucky, Wood Mice, foraging Wrens, Robins,etc.

Guess the 2 most basic rules are don't be too tidy + no pesticides. Good luck + keep us informed of your progress.

[JeffH]

Susie

If you've got the space I'd recommend a stream - birds find running water irresistible and since completing my 2 ponds with adjoining stream set-up last year I've been amazed at how many birds use the stream for bathing. Last weekend I had a mixed group of chaffinch, goldfinch, blue tit, greeenfinch and house sparrow all bathing at the same time.

Jeff

[Susie]

Originally Posted by nightshade

What sort of space Susie? Log pile, earth and stone bank/pile, Seat at vantage point

Well, I know this sounds daft but I am not exactly sure how big my new back garden is going to be! We only saw the house for ten minutes before we put an offer in on it and haven't been back to view it inside since then. I think the garden is approximately 40 feet wide and 30 deep. It is all grass, with a bit of decking near the house and conifers along the fence. Here's a picture.



I'm taking on board all that you are suggesting and am very grateful for everyone's ideas.

[Paul mabbott]

I would not worry about a pond, as such. In SE England it is already difficult to maintain one, probably a bad thing environmentally and doesn't make the greatest contribution to wildlife (even bad for wildlife if you consider the numbers of mammals that drown!). However, perhaps a temporary pond (which most real ones are) - have something fairly shallow to hold rainwater during the winter and long enough into spring to allow froglets &c to develop. Then leave it as a bog during the summer which will support a great number of insects.
The grass you can improve (for wildlife) by not mowing too often, cutting alternate patches, planting some bulbs and larger herbs towards the edges. *Not* treating with chemicals!
Otherwise, the big attribute from your photo appears to be the shrubbery - this is where most animals will thrive - let it thicken up, prune it at the right time of year (late August?) and put in a few native shrubs or trees .....
Easy!
Good luck, Paul

Originally Posted by Susie

Well, I know this sounds daft but I am not exactly sure how big my new back garden is going to be! We only saw the house for ten minutes before we put an offer in on it and haven't been back to view it inside since then. I think the garden is approximately 40 feet wide and 30 deep. It is all grass, with a bit of decking near the house and conifers along the fence.

[Susie]

But I really want a pond! I had a pond at my last house and spent many happy hours watching the creatures in there. The butterflies used to come down in the morning and drink and sun themselves on the rocks around the edges too. It was blissful.

I've dug all my favourite wildlife friendly plants out of my garden ready to transplant so there will be something to start it off. Obviously there will be a compost heap and a wood pile. Did you mention in another thread about burying buckets full of sawdust for beetles? I'm taking my bee box and I have eight bird feeders to hang up in various spots. If it is up to me the grass is GOING! Lawns are boring and take up space where I could have far more interesting plants.

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Susie

But I really want a pond! I had a pond at my last house and spent many happy hours watching the creatures in there. The butterflies used to come down in the morning and drink and sun themselves on the rocks around the edges too. It was blissful.

I've dug all my favourite wildlife friendly plants out of my garden ready to transplant so there will be something to start it off. Obviously there will be a compost heap and a wood pile. Did you mention in another thread about burying buckets full of sawdust for beetles? I'm taking my bee box and I have eight bird feeders to hang up in various spots. If it is up to me the grass is GOING! Lawns are boring and take up space where I could have far more interesting plants.

personally i'd lose some if not all of the conifers - yeah okay they are going to be quite good for nesting birds but they throw a lot of shade and make it difficult to grow other stuff near them as they acidify the soil - every time i see conifers in gardens i want to reach for my sthill and rev it up - you could replace them with pyracantha, budliea etc which would be equally good for birdlife if not better but also more interesting for other wildlife, and not as intrusive.

on other things I'd put in a pond definitely making sure its got shallows for anything that falls in to get out, and maybe have some piles or little cromlechs made of stone near by for frogs , toads , newts etc , and also for the mice and voles.

bird boxes and bat boxes, and bury some buckets full of woodchip (rather than sawdust) for stag beetles (drill holes in the bottom first).

hedgehog house in the shubbery may be ?

[Susie]

Oh yes, a hedgehog house! I would love to see hedgehogs again.

[eeyore]

hedgehog house designs here British Hedgehog Preservation Society if you want to build your own or know someone handy to do it for you

alternatively you can buy ready assembled ones, like this one from the RSPB Hedgehog house.