H OUS E & GA R D E N
Most of us understand the importance of putting water and food out for wild birds, some even put out nest boxes to encourage roosting, but this is only the tip of the iceberg. Any of you with a hedge could easily go a step further by helping the hedgehog population, by putting a hedgehog house underneath it. Done at this time of the year it allows it to weather and encourages nesting in the spring. In return you will benefit from their voracious appetites for slugs. Those of you lucky to have a pond, or damp area within the garden could help the frog population by putting a frog house nearby to help our amphibian friends. Any garden can be a home for a pollinating bee log, butterfly lodge, ladybird tower or lacewing hide. Most of us go about our lives with barely a glance at these insects going about their work, it might surprise you to learn that there are over 250 species of bee in the UK, without insects we would all be the poorer. Our gardens would suffer more pests, our trees and shrubs less fruit and berries,
as their flowers lack their pollinators. Many of these creatures are misunderstood and are threatened as a result of the way our environment, large and small, is managed. Currently there are real fears that our bee and butterfly populations are being severely affected by man’s activities, your actions on their own will not cause animals to become extinct or save them, but like everything in life, the activities of a number of people do have that ability. Forgive me if you think I am preaching to you, as I do not intend to. However encouraging wildlife will add an extra dimension to your garden and help bring it to life, not just for you but for future generations.
A selection of these products are available from: www.plantsforall.co.uk.
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