Creating your wildlife garden

Most gardens are structured around beauty, fragrance and appearance of the foliage and plants within. However, don’t forget wild British flowers which have all of these qualities but which in addition attract their more natural animal counterparts.

A wild garden is just as co-ordinated and planned as any other garden. Indeed it requires all the careful planning and skills which are used to create and maintain any other garden.

While the wildlife in Britain slowly disappears the importance in garden wildlife increases. Each year 9,000 natural ponds disappear in Britain  leaving thousands of creatures searching for a new habitat. So, by planting a native tree such as the common hawthorn as opposed to an exotic one will encourage and help nurture  native organisms. Similar practice can be taken with buttercups at the beginning of the Spring season. Instead of cutting them immediately, left for a few weeks they will provide food for butterflies and other insects.

Many plants protect themselves chemically  with a toxin to prevent  them from being eaten. Similarly some animals have a natural resistance to otherwise poisonous plants. So, by planting a native tree as opposed to an exotic one one is encouraging and maintaining our own natural animal life.

How to create your wildlife garden

1. Create a spring meadow with daisies, bulbous buttercups, cowslips and wild daffodils. This can be cut back in June to leave a plain lawn until the next year.

2. Create a summer meadow with some of the spring plants but include marjoram, knapweed and scabious. This will encourage butterflies throughout the summer. If left uncut will also allow seed to drop in the autumn thus providing an autumn feast for  birds.

3. Create a colourful wildlife pond with natural lilies. Add oxygenators such as water crowfoot. The absence of fish will allow dragonflies and many other aquatic organisms to develop.

4. Plant more trees and plants that are native to Britain such as rowan or whitebeam.

 Information:

  For gardens to visit in your local area contact the Wildlife Trust 01636 677711 or visit their web-site at www.wildlifetrust.org.uk

  Or call the National Gardens Scheme on 01483 211535

By Amy Jayne Kilpatrick

copyright50connect.co.uk

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