Wild about gardens with the Kent Wildlife Trust

Above: Nectar-rich plants attract butterflies

Above: Ladybirds in Kent

There are 15 million gardens in Britain, so their potential contribution to wildlife conservation is enormous. It is really very easy to transform a garden, or part of a garden, into a mosaic of wildlife-rich areas. Even a window box will attract passing butterflies, if the right flowers are planted.

Attracting wildlife to our gardens can prove very rewarding; it can also help to compensate for the loss of habitat in the ‘wild’ and, as a result, make a positive contribution to the conservation of our native wildlife.

Creating the habitats
Increasing the value of a garden for wildlife can be achieved simply by making some alterations to the way we ‘manage’ our gardens. For example; by reducing the frequency of lawn mowing, leaving an area of grass unmown and planting borders with nectar-rich flowers to increase their value to insects. Alternatively, new habitats can be introduced specifically to attract wildlife and some of these are outlined below.

The garden pond
A garden pond is easy to construct and can be of any size. Pond liners are available from most garden centres: plastic, pvc or preferably butyl rubber. Pre-shaped fibreglass ponds are another option. The ideal site for the pond is in a sunny spot away from the shade of trees - fallen leaves and shade will make the water stagnant.
When digging out a pond, it is important to make sure it is deep enough at one point to prevent it from freezing solid in winter – at least 18 inches. To attract frogs, in particular, an area of the pond should only be a few inches deep.

The ideal site for the pond is in a sunny spot away from the shade of trees

Where possible the sides of the pond should shelve very gently to help plants become established. Before putting the liner in place, any sharp stones should be removed and the hole lined with sand, turf, old carpets or even newspapers. The liner should then be covered with a layer of sandy subsoil.

Once dug and lined, the pond should be stocked with plants (if filled with tap water, then allow 48 hours for the water to stand before introducing plantlife). Oxygenating plants are essential. Suitable submerged plants include water starwort, hornwort and water milfoil and on the edge of the shallow water plants such as bogbean, water plantain and flowering rush can be used. In the case of larger ponds, any adjacent marshy ground can be planted with meadowsweet, marsh marigold and flag iris. These will provide ideal cover for amphibians.

A bucket of mud from the bottom of an established garden pond will introduce the eggs and larvae of aquatic animals - dragonflies, water snails, beetles, etc. Water plants should be well established before introducing animal life, and fish are not a good idea if you want a wide range of aquatic life in the pond - they will eat much of it, including tadpoles!

A woodland habitat
Native species of trees and shrubs provide food, shelter and nesting sites for hundreds of creatures. Decaying wood will attract further species of fungi and invertebrates. Dead and decaying leaves provide yet another habitat - perhaps a home for a hibernating hedgehog. If you have space, include the different ‘layers’ of a wood. Taller trees, such as birch and alder, can be planted to form the canopy, the latter attracting siskins in the winter.

Shrubs such as hazel, spindle, hawthorn, elder or guelder rose and climbers such as old man’s beard form the intermediate layer. The ground cover is provided by woodland flowers such as bluebell and wood anemone. The shrub layer will be particularly attractive to birds, providing them with food, shelter and nesting sites.

It is important to remember that it is largely native trees and shrubs that have the greatest wildlife value. These have been with us for thousands of years, allowing time for complex eco-systems to build up. Native oaks alone play host to over 400 insects; compare this with about 40 insects associated with the non-native sycamore.

Native shrubs such as the sweet-scented dog rose or the colourful guelder rose make delightful displays in a garden and are of far more wildlife value than many exotic garden shrubs, though some such as cotoneaster, viburnum and mahonia do offer a source of nectar, pollen and fruits, and cover for nesting birds.

Even in a small garden, the addition of a small tree and some shrubs will greatly add to its wildlife value since they will act as a 'woodland edge' (often the richest part of a wood). Songbirds and small mammals will be attracted and also the woodland butterflies - comma, speckled wood and gatekeeper.

A cottage garden
Colourful ‘cottage-garden’ style borders of native and non-native flowers will provide food - nectar, pollen and seeds, for a host of insects - bees, butterflies and moths, and birds. A mixture of flowering and fruiting shrubs, herbaceous perennials and seasonal bedding, that together provide food for as long a period as possible, is the ideal.

Plants to include might be teasel, providing nectar for insects and seeds for goldfinches; meadow cranesbill, chicory and toadflax - all good for bees; the evening primrose, with its night time flowers attracting clouds of moths, and the autumn flowering Michaelmas daisy, providing not only a rich source of nectar late in the season, but also food for seed-eating birds.

A butterfly garden
Nectar-rich plants, both native and non-native, attractive to butterflies and other nectar feeding insects include; polyanthus, arabis, alyssum, aubretia, honesty, sweet rocket, phlox, lavender, thyme, ice plant, michaelmas daisy and of course the ‘butterfly bush’ - the buddleja.

Nectar-rich plants are attractive to butterflies

Remember to plant the larval food plants too if you can. A small patch of nettles left to grow in a corner or in a pot will provide food for the caterpillars of the peacock, comma, red admiral and small tortoiseshell. Always cut some of the nettles back to allow plenty of young growth. A patch of honesty will provide food for the caterpillars of the orange-tip butterfly and the seeds are a source of food for birds.

A wild area
Most of your wildlife garden can be kept neat and tidy. However, it is a good idea to allow a small area to become overgrown, perhaps an area behind a garden shed that is out of sight! This will provide food and cover for birds and small mammals.

Attracting the birds
Bird boxes, tables and feeders can be carefully positioned in the garden to attract a wide variety of birdlife. When providing a bird table, it should be positioned and designed so as to be cat-proof and always remember to provide water as well as food.

Ideally the birds should be fed regularly - once you start they will expect it! The choice of food supplied will of course affect the range of birds using the feeding station. Don't put whole peanuts out in the summer as nestling birds may choke on them.

Bird boxes are simple to construct or relatively cheap to buy and can provide a tremendous source of enjoyment. The boxes should be positioned out of direct sunlight and again away from the reach of cats. The design of the box you choose will influence the species of bird that may take up residence – those with a small hole (28mm diameter) are popular with blue and great tits. Homes can also be provided for other animals.

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