Wildlife Gardening

Our own back gardens are often the place where we encounter wildlife most regularly. It will probably be the place where we first come across it whether it be digging up worms (to add to that mud pie) or being engrossed in the antics of ants. Children and adults alike all benefit from being out in a garden and wildlife can benefit from these refuges. The RHS and the Wildlife Trusts have set up a joint website with some great resources on how to improve your garden for wildlife.

The wonderful thing about a garden is that it can be a microcosm of large habitats, they often contain such variety that a plethora of creatures and plants can benefit. Some shrubs, a small pond, flower beds and the compost bin all provide the perfect home for frogs, butterflies, toads, hedgehogs, invertebrates, birds, fungi and so much more.

We can all do our bit for nature in our back gardens and we will provide regular posts here of hints and tips on how you can be a part of the largest network of nature reserves in Wales, in our own back gardens.

Garden News

• Nectar Cafe at the Cardiff RHS Last year was our first attempt at a garden at the Cardiff RHS and after enjoying the experience we decided to have another garden this year. This year we decided to focus on the importance of pollinators, because they face so many challenges at this time we felt it important to show how you can ...
• Learning to Love Ivy A much maligned plant, common ivy (Hedera helix) is often thought to be responsible for the death of trees and, as a consequence, is routinely cut back. Ivy is not a parasitic plant however. The fine aerial roots, which people often assume are taking nutrients from trees, are anchors and only penetrate the bark  allowing ...
• Green Deserts or Verdant Pastures? The great British obsession does sometimes seem to be a lawn. People seem to desire a perfectly manicured green carpet around their house, sadly this can create, what we call, a green desert where nothing really thrives. At this time of year you often hear the mowers roar into life (when the weather is at least ...
• March – When Wildlife Gardening Comes to Life At this time of year the garden springs to life as hidden bulbs burst through the ground and bumblebees emerge and drunkenly fly from flower to flower.With the song thrush singing from 6 in the morning through to 6 in the evening and the surprisingly loud song of the wren bursting from hedges and shrubs ...
• Invest in a WildLove Nest People from Cardiff to Aberystwyth are being asked to give love a helping hand between St Dwynwen’s and St Valentine’s day by the Wildlife Trusts and the Royal Horticultural Society. By providing shelter, food, and wildlife corridors, you can offer space for wild species to come together, and play a vital role for the next generation ...
• Autumn on Strike The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales (WTSWW) have been receiving reports and seeing for themselves some fairly odd sightings for autumn. Whilst our summer visitors have left us and our winter visitors such as fieldfares and redwings have arrived it would seem that not all our wildlife is aware that winter is on the ...
• Creating a Pond and Bog This is a great time of year to put a pond or wetland area into your garden. Ponds bring with them a wealth of wildlife, attracting birds and mammals for a drink and creating the perfect habitat for a wide variety of invertebrates and amphibians. A successful pond needs; sloping sides to ensure hedgehogs do not ...