A natural history of Britain

Help birds through the cold

The RSPB has just issued its “wild bird winter survival plan“  to help birds get through the worst of the freezing weather. It recommends:

1. Put out feed regularly, especially in severe weather.  Set up a bird table and use high calorie seed mixes.
2. Put out hanging feeders for black sunflower seeds, sunflower hearts, sunflower-rich mixes or unsalted peanuts.
3. Ensure a supply of fresh water every day. If it is very cold use tepid water but DO NOT use any antifreeze products.
4. Put out fruit, such as apples and pears, for Blackbirds, Song Thrushes and other members of the thrush family.
5. Food bars or fat hung up or rubbed into the bark of trees is a great help for Treecreepers, Goldcrests and many other species.
6. Put up nest boxes to provide roost sites for the smaller birds. They will then be used for breeding later in the year.

Birds of Britain, Information about the 2010 cold snap, Wildlife in gardens in Britain | Tags: Encouraging birds in your garden, Facts about the 2010 cold snap|

Squirrel-proof Birdfeeders

For those who don’t succumb to the charms of grey squirrels, keeping them off the bird feeder is a challenge.  There are plenty of ideas on the forums, such as placing a table on top of a greased pole, or capitulating by scattering food on the ground to distract the squirrels and give the birds a chance.  If unwanted rodents are consuming kilos of bird food, it might be worth investing in a specially designed squirrel-proof bird feeder.  Those sold by the RSPB include conventional seed and nut dispensers caged within bars too narrow for a squirrel to pass through.  Then there’s the robust–looking Squirrel Buster, which automatically closes down when something heavier than a small bird tries to access the food.  It’s the most expensive option, but comes with a life-time guarantee. Not bad considering the fearless acrobatics and determined wire-chewing tendencies of squirrels.
View at the RSPB

Green shopping, Wildlife in gardens in Britain | Tags: anti-squirrel bird feeder, best squirrel proof bird feeder, good quality bird feeder, how to deter squirrels from the bird feeder, how to keep squirrels off the birdfeeder, squirrels steal bird food|

Birds sharing nest boxes

The RSPB have put out a reminder that now is a good moment to clean out nest boxes and put up new ones, since birds begin searching for likely sites well in advance of spring. And a sure sign that more nest boxes are needed in the area is when different species are found sharing the same space. This occurs particularly with barn owl boxes, since holes in trees or old buildings suitable for larger birds are becoming harder to find. The photograph shows barn owl and kestrel chicks being raised together. Great and blue tits are also known to share. RSPB

Birds of Britain, Birds of prey of Britain, Green shopping, Wildlife in gardens in Britain | Tags: barn owl boxes used by other species, barn owls and kestrels use same nest box, best time to clean put up new nest boxes, putting up nest boxes|

The house and garden of Roger Deakin

Anyone who has enjoyed reading Roger Deakin’s books, especially Waterlog and Notes from Walnut Tree Farm, will love listening to these radio programmes that he recorded for the BBC.  Produced by Sara Blunt, the 25 minute-long programmes capture Deakin’s unusual home and garden, and the man who lived there.  The producer deliberately chose not to use an interviewer, instead allowing Deakin to draw you into his world with his own words. Read the rest of this entry

Gardens of Britain, Nature in art and literature, Radio and television nature programmes, Wildlife in gardens in Britain, nature writing about Britain | Tags: exploring a suffolk garden, inside a Suffolk farmhouse, living in the Suffolk countryside, radio programmes about Roger Deakin, radio programmes about Walnut Tree Farm, sounds of nature in England, tribute to Roger Deakin|

Green roofs

When a million-strong swarm of ladybirds landed on Blackdown Horticultural farm recently, every time the staff ventured outside they were coated in insects. But the red cloud brought good publicity for their enterprise:  green roof installation.

The swarm had arrived to feast on aphids living on pesticide-free sedum plants, a staple of green roofs since these succulents are drought-resistant and thrive in well-drained conditions. Read the rest of this entry

Farming, Gardens of Britain, Wildlife in gardens in Britain, urban nature in Britain | Tags: benefits of green roofs, best green roof, ecological roof insulation, green roof design, green roofs and urban heat island effect, ladybird swarms in farm, sedum for green roofs, sky larks at Rolls-Royce factory|

Brace yourself for the insect invasions

Summer time is perilous, judging by some of the recent headlines in the Daily Telegraph:

Wasp Hordes poised to invade British Gardens,  Army of Flying Ants descend on Britain,  Swarm of Millions of Ladybirds infests farm.

It’s enough to make you flee indoors and hide, with all windows sealed shut.

But one invasion is described in words that don’t invite fear and loathing: Billions of Butterflies expected in Gardens.  Read the rest of this entry

Wildlife in gardens in Britain, butterflies of Britain, insects of Britain | Tags: Butterflies in Britain, butterfly migration in Britain, insect invasions, Painted Ladies in Britain, Painted Lady migration, summer insects in Britain|

Hedgehog shelter

If you have hedgehogs in your garden, you might like to install a refuge where they can hibernate or live all year round.  This unobtrusive shelter sold by the RSPB looks very inviting (from a hedgehog’s point of view!).  It’s waterproof too. View at the RSPB

Green shopping, Wildlife in gardens in Britain | Tags: hedgehog shelter, hedgehogs in garden|

Derek Jarman’s garden

I love this series of photos of the shingle cottage-garden of the late film-maker Derek Jarman in Dungeness, Kent. The garden is unfenced and the tended areas blend in naturally with the natural vegetation. Jarman created the garden in the latter years of his life, in the shadow of the Dungeness power station. Read the rest of this entry

Wildlife in gardens in Britain | Tags: Beach gardens, Derek Jarman, Derek Jarman's beach garden, Dungeness, Kent, Most interesting gardens in England, Natural gardens, Prospect Cottage, Seaside gardens, shingle gardens|

What hedgehogs like to eat

The idea of hedgehogs feasting mainly on slugs and snails is somewhat of a misconception.  It’s true that hedgehogs are very useful natural pest controllers, snaffling up all kinds of unwanted creatures in your garden, but gastropods form only part of their varied diet, which includes beetles, earth worms, millipedes, caterpillars, earwigs, frogs, and bird’s eggs.  In fact, if they are forced to eat too many slugs and snails, because of lack of alternative food, they are at risk of lungworm infestation.  Hedgehogs suffering from this parasite, which slugs and snails harbour, will develop the symptoms of a heavy smoker, wheezing and coughing their way to an early death. Read the rest of this entry

Mammals of Britain, Wildlife in gardens in Britain, hedgehogs in Britain | Tags: controlling pests in the garden, feeding hedgehogs, hedgehog diet, hedgehogs in Britain, hedgehogs in the garden, natural pest control|

Wildflowers in your garden

If you’re looking for wildflower seeds, an experienced supplier is Landlife, a registered charity who promote biodiversity.  But they don’t simply plant wildflowers.  Firm believers in nature’s power to heal and uplift, Landlife strive to improve the environment for people’s wellbeing, focusing particularly on deprived areas.  You can support their work by ordering fabulous mixtures of wildflower seeds, or making up your own combinations.  They are experts in large-scale conservation projects, as well as transforming small gardens, even balconies.  The photograph shows their classic best-selling Cornfield mix.

Read about their products and projects.

Flora of Britain, Green shopping, Wildlife in gardens in Britain | Tags: Landlife, planting wildflowers, wildflower seeds, wildflowers in Britain|

Garden wildlife photography

The Guardian has drawn up the shortlist for its 2009 Garden wildlife photography competition. Photo above is of a Blue-tailed damselfly by Kate Fuller.
Slideshow in the Guardian

Wildlife in gardens in Britain | Tags: Blue-tailed damselfly, Wildlife gardening|