Page 10 - Wildlife News December 2015

Provide spaces for wildlife and it will
quickly make your garden home.
(David Tipling/ NPL)

nWewildfrontiers

The blank canvas of a new garden may
appear a stark and uninviting place, but
with some wild thinking it won’t take
long for nature to move in and colonise,
as Ben Vanheems explains

A nyone who has moved corner will have a dramatic mower with its blades raised to using a bucket or washing-
into a new-build impact. the highest setting and remove up bowl. Fill your pond with
property will be Pick an open, sunny all cut material to the compost rainwater and suitable pond
familiar with the stark and position then prepare the heap to prevent nutrient build- plants. Frogs, toads and insects
near-plantless environment ground by meticulously up in the meadow. This will such as dragon and damselflies
of its accompanying garden. removing all weeds, including encourage more flowers over will be joined by passing birds
Often laid entirely to lawn, roots of perennials such as grasses. and mammals using your pond
with patches of builders’ bindweed. Rake the ground as the local watering hole.
rubble lurking just beneath the level then create a firm Green infrastructure
surface, it’s a far cry from the seedbed by walking up and Instant impact
verdant calm of an established down the soil in a close-footed Denuded gardens offer little
garden. shuffle. Sow in spring or interest for birds, mammals While the measures above
Desolate plots aren’t towards the end of summer, and just about any other wild take a little time to establish,
limited to new-builds: there using wildflower seed from visitor, so plant some choice you may be surprised by how
are plenty of unloved gardens a reputable company. Pick trees and shrubs as soon as quickly they start to have the
bald of shrubs and borders, a mixture suitable for your you are able. Opt for berry- desired effect. Nevertheless,
just waiting for someone to conditions and, if you can, opt producing shrubs such as there are plenty of genuinely
breathe new life into them. for British seed. Rake the seed elder, dogwood, berberis and instant solutions to attract
Gardens lacking in in after sowing then tamp the pyracantha, which will serve wildlife.
plants are clearly hostile ground down with the back of as a valuable food source for Homes for animals include
environments for wildlife. a rake. Water thoroughly. hungry birds, particularly over hedgehog boxes (see August
That’s the bad news. The good You can also buy pots or winter. 2015 issue, page 13), insect
news is that it is very easy plugs of wild flowers to plant Hedges are preferable to hotels, bug piles and bird
to turn a blank canvas into a directly into your lawn. Mimic fences, allowing animals such boxes sited in safe and secure
space for nature, and for you. natural drifts by planting as hedgehogs to pass freely locations. Many gardens will
Here then, are a few ideas flowers of the same species from your garden to the next. A also be suitable for more
to quickly transform a new in small clusters. They will hedge planted with traditional specialist dwellings such as
garden into a wildlife paradise. naturally self-seed and spread hedgerow species such as bat boxes or swift boxes, also
to create an impressive display. blackthorn will also attract available as ‘bricks’ that can
Urban meadow Meadows don’t need much butterflies and yield plenty of replace standard bricks to
maintenance, making them a berries and fruits for birds – provide a residence within the
Pep up your garden’s wildlife low-maintenance alternative to and for making country wines. fabric of your home.
credentials by sowing or a traditional lawn. The sward is Ponds draw in more wildlife Don’t forget the day-to-
planting a patch of wild flowers cut two months after flowering than any other feature. If you day wildlife gestures either:
to create an instant meadow to give plants the chance to don’t fancy a complicated feeding birds and topping up
that insects, including bees scatter their seeds. A summer- freeform pond made with a bird baths, for example. Over
and butterflies will love. You flowering meadow, then, is cut pond liner, use any number time your new garden can
don’t necessarily need to rip up in early autumn. Use a lawn of the preformed ponds, or become an old haunt of the
the entire lawn – even a wild simply create a mini pond local wildlife.

10 Wildlife news