Pansyface and Jo - this flowering currant. Do you mean flowering redcurrant? Because I've got that, its about 17 years old now and quite sprawling. I was always worried it wasn't good for wildlife.
Its a right tangle in there, an old buddleia too and brambles.
Thanks so much for the replies so far. We're in the South, and birds we've had in our garden before are sparrows and blue tits, then magpies and pidgeons etc. There are some other types of small birds around, but we don't often get them because our garden is not appealing to birds right now. Apparently there's blackbirds, robins and I think possibly goldfinches. I'd love to attract robins to the garden so if anyone knows of something they really like I'd be interested to hear.
Regarding space, we've got potentially a good stretch on both sides. My plans for the north facing side is to have a few climbers to help provide some screening. If I was to put a shrub there I'd probably prefer it wasn't larger than one fence panel width (6 feet). I know this aspect is better for nesting so I guess we should try to put something like a berberis or holly there. On the south facing side we've got more room, but are going to have the pond, rockery and wildflowers there too. Again I'd probably prefer the shrub to not be wider than a fence panel. Is this unrealistic for something that birds would use though?
I should add that for the last couple of years we've had sparrows nesting in our roof at the back, and this year we also had starlings nesting in the front.
forgot to mention Mahonia Charity (or similar) - this is absolutely a must have in my garden. The flowers are scented and loved by blue tits who fill the bush for a good feed, and then these are followed by berries which the blackbirds love - they bring their babies and teach them how to eat them. I cut out the tallest branch each year to encourage it to make young growth lower down.
If you've a lot of magpies then that will put off a lot of the small song birds you mentioned. They're more voracious predators than any cat.
Robins particularly liken insects and worms so make sure you've something to attract those. In terms of providing feed then mealworms (dried are fine) and also they're quite partial to fruit cake, sultanas and sunflower seeds.
We actually have had a tractor out of commission this year because a robin took up residence and laid 4 eggs in the front of the engine compartment.
They are very territorial and will fight off others so depending on the size of your garden you may not get more than a pair. They will even fight off the likes of coal tits and dunnocks too during the breeding season because they're not so keen on sharing food source. So you may well need to ensure there's plenty feed for them by supplementing.
This year we fed live mealworms from up near the house to the nesting robins - that freed up the feeders under the trees for the bluetits and dunnocks etc.
The robins would call for us to go out onto the terrace to fill their dish, and twice the male came into the house - sat on the rocking chair and shouted at me because I'd not responded to him quickly enough. They were soon taking mealworms from our hands - they reared three broods this year. .
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Thanks for the further advice, this forum is so helpful and informative.
I'm very taken with the idea of a holly so far - the Ilex aquifolium 'J.C. van Tol' I think. I especially like that you can keep them pruned and it doesn't seem to affect them flowering. I'm also going to look in to the berberis and the mahonia. I think using the evergreen holly and berberis amongst my deciduous climbers (clematis, honeysuckles) will work well, although I'll have to be careful about the positioning of the shrubs for blocking out the sun.
We're getting nearer being able to choose plants so I'm reinvestigating the shrubs I want to buy. I definitely want to get the Ilex aquifolium 'J.C. van Tol' - my partner was dubious because of the potential for prickly leaves to stand on, but I found one to check out at a garden centre and they only seem to have one prickly point on the end of the leaf, so I've managed to persuade him.
I also really liked the sound of the Mahonia x media 'Charity' but looking at photos it looks as though the leaves are extremely spiky. Do these leaves tend to fall to the ground a lot, I know they're evergreen but would we have a carpet of spiky leaves? My partner's reservations come from when he was younger playing in the garden with a holly tree and treading on a pile of spiky holly leaves in barefeet!
Posts
Pansyface and Jo - this flowering currant. Do you mean flowering redcurrant? Because I've got that, its about 17 years old now and quite sprawling. I was always worried it wasn't good for wildlife.
Its a right tangle in there, an old buddleia too and brambles.
Yes that's the one
Mine has pinkish red blossom in spring.
Its ok Jo,the temptation was too great wasn't it. Recognising there is a problem is half the battle, trust me I know
We have goldfinches nesting in the wisteria trained on the house wall.
Hollies need a male and a female and the names can be deceptive - Silver King is female! But the birds do love it, with or without berries.
Hi everyone,
Thanks so much for the replies so far. We're in the South, and birds we've had in our garden before are sparrows and blue tits, then magpies and pidgeons etc. There are some other types of small birds around, but we don't often get them because our garden is not appealing to birds right now. Apparently there's blackbirds, robins and I think possibly goldfinches. I'd love to attract robins to the garden so if anyone knows of something they really like I'd be interested to hear.
Regarding space, we've got potentially a good stretch on both sides. My plans for the north facing side is to have a few climbers to help provide some screening. If I was to put a shrub there I'd probably prefer it wasn't larger than one fence panel width (6 feet). I know this aspect is better for nesting so I guess we should try to put something like a berberis or holly there. On the south facing side we've got more room, but are going to have the pond, rockery and wildflowers there too. Again I'd probably prefer the shrub to not be wider than a fence panel. Is this unrealistic for something that birds would use though?
I should add that for the last couple of years we've had sparrows nesting in our roof at the back, and this year we also had starlings nesting in the front.
Thanks for all of the advice so far,
Lucid
forgot to mention Mahonia Charity (or similar) - this is absolutely a must have in my garden. The flowers are scented and loved by blue tits who fill the bush for a good feed, and then these are followed by berries which the blackbirds love - they bring their babies and teach them how to eat them. I cut out the tallest branch each year to encourage it to make young growth lower down.
If you've a lot of magpies then that will put off a lot of the small song birds you mentioned. They're more voracious predators than any cat.
Robins particularly liken insects and worms so make sure you've something to attract those. In terms of providing feed then mealworms (dried are fine) and also they're quite partial to fruit cake, sultanas and sunflower seeds.
We actually have had a tractor out of commission this year because a robin took up residence and laid 4 eggs in the front of the engine compartment.
They are very territorial and will fight off others so depending on the size of your garden you may not get more than a pair. They will even fight off the likes of coal tits and dunnocks too during the breeding season because they're not so keen on sharing food source. So you may well need to ensure there's plenty feed for them by supplementing.
This year we fed live mealworms from up near the house to the nesting robins - that freed up the feeders under the trees for the bluetits and dunnocks etc.
The robins would call for us to go out onto the terrace to fill their dish, and twice the male came into the house - sat on the rocking chair and shouted at me because I'd not responded to him quickly enough. They were soon taking mealworms from our hands - they reared three broods this year. .
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Thanks for the further advice, this forum is so helpful and informative.
I'm very taken with the idea of a holly so far - the Ilex aquifolium 'J.C. van Tol' I think. I especially like that you can keep them pruned and it doesn't seem to affect them flowering. I'm also going to look in to the berberis and the mahonia. I think using the evergreen holly and berberis amongst my deciduous climbers (clematis, honeysuckles) will work well, although I'll have to be careful about the positioning of the shrubs for blocking out the sun.
Lucid
We're getting nearer being able to choose plants so I'm reinvestigating the shrubs I want to buy. I definitely want to get the Ilex aquifolium 'J.C. van Tol' - my partner was dubious because of the potential for prickly leaves to stand on, but I found one to check out at a garden centre and they only seem to have one prickly point on the end of the leaf, so I've managed to persuade him.
I also really liked the sound of the Mahonia x media 'Charity' but looking at photos it looks as though the leaves are extremely spiky. Do these leaves tend to fall to the ground a lot, I know they're evergreen but would we have a carpet of spiky leaves? My partner's reservations come from when he was younger playing in the garden with a holly tree and treading on a pile of spiky holly leaves in barefeet!
Lucid