I have a pond, log piles, 3 compost heaps, trees, shrubs, perennials and bulbs to provide nectar and pollen and I feed the birds all year round. My garden is ex cow pasture with agro-chem arable fields to the north and west plus boggy paddocks to the south and east and woodland a few hundred yards away which are supposed to be havens for a wide range of birds and insects - all to be found in my garden which has food and/or shelter for most of them.
I should have thought most of Monty's garden is already a haven for wildlife too but I can see why he'd decide to turn a neglected corner into a new wildlife area to show others with less experience how to go about it. About time he did something on a normal garden scale that viewers can relate to more easily.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
If Monty steers away from the 'flower meadow' approach (not always that beneficial to a wide range of wildlife due to the cutting regimes needed) and goes for things like log piles and habitat piles it will be helpful to a wide audience.
I know from many people I meet that they would do more in the garden specifically for wildlife, if they knew what to do. Lets hope Monty avoids the private nature reserve approach and concentrates on the more doable and practical wildlife gardening ideas for small spaces. I know they work from my own experience, not theories, just good practical stuff everyone can enjoy doing.
It is far more practical to use a chipper, chip the material first, saves on turning the heap a lot, that's my way with a wildlife friendly compost heap, makes great compost too.
Just been out and took a few pictures of the wildlife garden. I keep it in a specific area mainly because it is all very structural and the other areas of the garden are a veg patch and where the patio is going. It is a very small area btw about 22ft by 40ft
Tyres for bugs and lizards to warm up on. The planting idea came from Gardengirl so thanks for that.
Log pile Number 1, there are three major log piles positioned on a bund with a hardcore center capped with soil.
Pond was recently rebuilt with natural clay. Has a weird algal bloom at the moment, but it is clearing slowly after putting in Barley Straw bails, thanks Edd for that suggestion.
Close up of log pile, you'll need to look carefully at the center of the picture to see one of the inhabitants sunning itself
Here's another close up of the log/habitat piles, it is a bit easier to spot this lizard, four out in total this morning:
Bug hotel with adjoining habitat pile
Old world compost heap, left open on one side for access to wildlife
View of bund from behind. Habitat pile on top, mostly willow
New hawthorn hedge. Some areas still look like a building site from all the work on the pond and hedge last year, hoping to improve them this year.
Membrane is down for two years for the health of the hedge. I will be glad when I can get it up and plant around the hedge. Some hedge cuttings will go at the base of the hedge in time to build it up as another habitat pile.
Next door to me have a nature garden they have dandelions moss nettles clover thistles long grass and a whole host of things you won't find in a garden centre
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I have a pond, log piles, 3 compost heaps, trees, shrubs, perennials and bulbs to provide nectar and pollen and I feed the birds all year round. My garden is ex cow pasture with agro-chem arable fields to the north and west plus boggy paddocks to the south and east and woodland a few hundred yards away which are supposed to be havens for a wide range of birds and insects - all to be found in my garden which has food and/or shelter for most of them.
I should have thought most of Monty's garden is already a haven for wildlife too but I can see why he'd decide to turn a neglected corner into a new wildlife area to show others with less experience how to go about it. About time he did something on a normal garden scale that viewers can relate to more easily.
I've just watched a fox walking across the garden with a dead rabbit for breakfast.
My wildlife balance seems ok this morning.
If Monty steers away from the 'flower meadow' approach (not always that beneficial to a wide range of wildlife due to the cutting regimes needed) and goes for things like log piles and habitat piles it will be helpful to a wide audience.
I know from many people I meet that they would do more in the garden specifically for wildlife, if they knew what to do. Lets hope Monty avoids the private nature reserve approach and concentrates on the more doable and practical wildlife gardening ideas for small spaces. I know they work from my own experience, not theories, just good practical stuff everyone can enjoy doing.
and let's hope he's stopped marching his lawn mower into his compost bins.
My bins are home to slowworms , toads , grass snakes and little mice and voles. I'm not sure how they'd fight a lawn mower.
Indeed
It is far more practical to use a chipper, chip the material first, saves on turning the heap a lot, that's my way with a wildlife friendly compost heap, makes great compost too.
ditto Gemma, I got a chipper on free cycle last month, it's great.
Just been out and took a few pictures of the wildlife garden. I keep it in a specific area mainly because it is all very structural and the other areas of the garden are a veg patch and where the patio is going. It is a very small area btw about 22ft by 40ft
Tyres for bugs and lizards to warm up on. The planting idea came from Gardengirl so thanks for that.
Log pile Number 1, there are three major log piles positioned on a bund with a hardcore center capped with soil.
Pond was recently rebuilt with natural clay. Has a weird algal bloom at the moment, but it is clearing slowly after putting in Barley Straw bails, thanks Edd for that suggestion.
Close up of log pile, you'll need to look carefully at the center of the picture to see one of the inhabitants sunning itself
Here's another close up of the log/habitat piles, it is a bit easier to spot this lizard, four out in total this morning:
Bug hotel with adjoining habitat pile
Old world compost heap, left open on one side for access to wildlife
View of bund from behind. Habitat pile on top, mostly willow
New hawthorn hedge. Some areas still look like a building site from all the work on the pond and hedge last year, hoping to improve them this year.
Membrane is down for two years for the health of the hedge. I will be glad when I can get it up and plant around the hedge.
Some hedge cuttings will go at the base of the hedge in time to build it up as another habitat pile.
This is our last dog Ben, sadly we lost him to cancer. He loved getting on the table to lay in the sun.
Posted to show what the wildlife garden is like in the summer, it is the jungle behind the brown fence.
Just realised looking at the picture we had a lawn back then of sorts.