What about some fruit? raspberries could do well - birds love them, so do we. They did very well this year in the highlands, still got some frozen ones in the freezer, and a lot of jam. Blackcurrants could also be successful -easy to propagate, I stuck the prunings from the 3 bushes I had in pots in the polytunnel, they took and are produing a lot of fruit - makes good blackcurrant juice which stsores well.
The pond is a good idea - ours has no fish, but frogs and toads appear during the year (there is a burn running along behind the fence at the bottom of our garden). The willow arbour planted near the pond is well used by us and by the birds - near the pond and the burn.
As already suggested...the book "No Nettles Required" by Ken Thompson is a MUST read. I can also recommend the RSPB Wildlife Gardening book by Adrian Thomas. This is now generally regarded as the best all-round book on the subject. Can also recommend a website www.foxleas.com that is by a leading exponent on this subject.
Also, buy your snowdrops "in the green" in the spring. all the gardeing mags will have ads in the back . Or google Eurobulbs.
Snowdrops are one bulb that establish poorly from dry as sold in the autumn. "In the green" means they will be sent to you in growth which can then be planted and it's easier to see the finished effect.
Small apple trees might be useful, if you have room. The apples this year were very small and late (not a good summer here in the Highlands) but the birds are very busy eating all the windfall apples. Birds seen recently: siskin, chaffinch, greefinch, bluetit, coletit, field sparrows, pheasant, starlings (lots), crows, blackbirds, hedge sparrows, house sparrows. Lots of seagulls at themoment. The house martins have departed, we hope to see them again next year. NOT good gardening conditions this year in this area, but the birds have been really good.
Hi Mark, I should've got back to you earlier. I'm really into wildlife gardening and re-doing my garden same as you. I've been researching what to get and have lots of ideas. I also have that book! I live nearby - would it be useful to swap contact details and ideas?
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What about some fruit? raspberries could do well - birds love them, so do we. They did very well this year in the highlands, still got some frozen ones in the freezer, and a lot of jam. Blackcurrants could also be successful -easy to propagate, I stuck the prunings from the 3 bushes I had in pots in the polytunnel, they took and are produing a lot of fruit - makes good blackcurrant juice which stsores well.
The pond is a good idea - ours has no fish, but frogs and toads appear during the year (there is a burn running along behind the fence at the bottom of our garden). The willow arbour planted near the pond is well used by us and by the birds - near the pond and the burn.
Hostas make a good display.
As already suggested...the book "No Nettles Required" by Ken Thompson is a MUST read. I can also recommend the RSPB Wildlife Gardening book by Adrian Thomas. This is now generally regarded as the best all-round book on the subject. Can also recommend a website www.foxleas.com that is by a leading exponent on this subject.
Also, buy your snowdrops "in the green" in the spring. all the gardeing mags will have ads in the back . Or google Eurobulbs.
Snowdrops are one bulb that establish poorly from dry as sold in the autumn. "In the green" means they will be sent to you in growth which can then be planted and it's easier to see the finished effect.
Small apple trees might be useful, if you have room. The apples this year were very small and late (not a good summer here in the Highlands) but the birds are very busy eating all the windfall apples. Birds seen recently: siskin, chaffinch, greefinch, bluetit, coletit, field sparrows, pheasant, starlings (lots), crows, blackbirds, hedge sparrows, house sparrows. Lots of seagulls at themoment. The house martins have departed, we hope to see them again next year. NOT good gardening conditions this year in this area, but the birds have been really good.
Hi Mark, I should've got back to you earlier. I'm really into wildlife gardening and re-doing my garden same as you. I've been researching what to get and have lots of ideas. I also have that book! I live nearby - would it be useful to swap contact details and ideas?