A small ‘natural’ pond – it need be no more than a little hole in the ground filled with water – will soon become a haven for all manner of insects, aquatic plants, frogs, toads and newts.
This type of pond will soon become a back-tonature playground for the whole family to enjoy. You can either introduce plants and fish or sit back and let native wildlife take over. If you introduce fish, however, they will eat other pondlife
Log piles
In times past, when there were large areas of forest and woodland, there were huge supplies of tree stumps and decaying wood that gave a home to wildlife.
Some beetles lay their eggs in rotten wood, there are grubs that eat wood, there are wasps that nest in decaying wood, slugs and snails that live under old logs, and vast numbers of worms, ants, centipedes, beetles and bugs that need to live in, on, under or near decaying wood. To recreate this habitat, pile up some logs and let them slowly decay.
HEDGES
A garden hedge is a great option for wildlife. A good, solid, traditional mixed hedge of hawthorn, box and dog rose makes the perfect sheltered place for wildlife to thrive.
HEDGING GUIDE
• Buxus sempervirens (Box) – Plant 1.5 m (5 ft) apart in autumn.
• Crataegus monogyna (Hawthorn) – Plant 45 cm (18 in) apart in autumn.
• Hedera spp. (Ivy) – Just let it grow in with the hedge; it is good for butterflies,
birds, mice and ants.
• Ilex spp. (Holly) – Plant 60 cm (2 ft) apart in late summer or early autumn to provide nesting sites.
• Ligustrum spp. (Privet) – Plant 30 cm (1 ft) apart at any time of year to rovide
good cover for small birds.
• Rosa canina (Dog Rose) – Grow as part of a mixed hedge
This type of pond will soon become a back-tonature playground for the whole family to enjoy. You can either introduce plants and fish or sit back and let native wildlife take over. If you introduce fish, however, they will eat other pondlife
A small, natural pond quickly attracts wildlife
In times past, when there were large areas of forest and woodland, there were huge supplies of tree stumps and decaying wood that gave a home to wildlife.
Some beetles lay their eggs in rotten wood, there are grubs that eat wood, there are wasps that nest in decaying wood, slugs and snails that live under old logs, and vast numbers of worms, ants, centipedes, beetles and bugs that need to live in, on, under or near decaying wood. To recreate this habitat, pile up some logs and let them slowly decay.
HEDGES
A garden hedge is a great option for wildlife. A good, solid, traditional mixed hedge of hawthorn, box and dog rose makes the perfect sheltered place for wildlife to thrive.
Birds will nest and eat the berries and bugs, hedgehogs and mice will live and feed in its shelter, snakes, lizards, frogs and toads will be encouraged by its cover and by the food source, butterflies will shelter and feed in its cover, and so on.
Hawthorn, Dog Rose and Box
• Buxus sempervirens (Box) – Plant 1.5 m (5 ft) apart in autumn.
• Crataegus monogyna (Hawthorn) – Plant 45 cm (18 in) apart in autumn.
• Hedera spp. (Ivy) – Just let it grow in with the hedge; it is good for butterflies,
birds, mice and ants.
• Ilex spp. (Holly) – Plant 60 cm (2 ft) apart in late summer or early autumn to provide nesting sites.
• Ligustrum spp. (Privet) – Plant 30 cm (1 ft) apart at any time of year to rovide
good cover for small birds.
• Rosa canina (Dog Rose) – Grow as part of a mixed hedge
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