Building a wildlife garden

[scubapauly]

Hi all,

I've never been one for gardening up until now but my interest in photography has pushed me towards birds and wildlife and so I'd like to create a wildlife garden to bring in some subjects.
My garden is not very large, probably 10m x 4m. I live in a terraced row so both sides have 5ft panel fence and at the end is a brick wall. I have 2 labradors so most of the garden is patio and there are narrow borders on the left and right and a 1m border at the back. The soil is quite heavy clay (I have put a lot of compost in the borders though) and the garden is west facing. I've put up 4 feeders and 2 nest boxes so far and for the first time have seen 3 bluetits in the garden.
I plan to increase the border on the right hand side to about 1m and to put in some plants that will attract birds and insects to the garden.
So far I have 3 white lillies that have grown well in the back area, a ballerina apple tree on the left border and some lavendar and a clematis on the right hand side. I want to put up some trellis and have ivy up the back wall. I'm a bit stuck though with what to put on the borders.
Any help from some budding (parden the pun) garden designers would be appreciated.

Paul

[willowa]

Hi Paul,
I have Rosemary and lavenda. The bluetits pick off caterpillars from under the leaves.
Scabiosa are good for full sun, they flower all summer and are loved by bees.
Cotoneaster are good for growing against a wall or for headeging(full sun or part shade)
Loved by blackbirds. (Cotoneaster Salicifolius) grows into a tree. Loved by Thrushes, Fieldfares, Redwings and Blackbirds. (Kniphofia)Red Hot Pocker The Sparrows strip the flowers. I also grow Buddleia (butterfly bush) And Mahonia.

For the borders I would go for the cottage garden look. Foxgloves,Lupins,(Rudbeckia Goldsturm),Primula (for spring). Phlox,Japanese Anemone, and for damp ground Astilbe. These attract insects, they attract birds. I grow all these in heavey clay and in part shade. They will also grow in sun. I cram as many plants in a space as I can this cuts out weeds.
Plant things that you like.
I also have a couple of large bays that the blackbirds eat the berries of. They are evergreen for winter colour.

[scubapauly]

Hi Paul,
I have Rosemary and lavenda. The bluetits pick off caterpillars from under the leaves.
Scabiosa are good for full sun, they flower all summer and are loved by bees.
Cotoneaster are good for growing against a wall or for headeging(full sun or part shade)
Loved by blackbirds. (Cotoneaster Salicifolius) grows into a tree. Loved by Thrushes, Fieldfares, Redwings and Blackbirds. (Kniphofia)Red Hot Pocker The Sparrows strip the flowers. I also grow Buddleia (butterfly bush) And Mahonia.

For the borders I would go for the cottage garden look. Foxgloves,Lupins,(Rudbeckia Goldsturm),Primula (for spring). Phlox,Japanese Anemone, and for damp ground Astilbe. These attract insects, they attract birds. I grow all these in heavey clay and in part shade. They will also grow in sun. I cram as many plants in a space as I can this cuts out weeds.
Plant things that you like.
I also have a couple of large bays that the blackbirds eat the berries of. They are evergreen for winter colour.


Thanks for the tips. Will add a lot of thse to my list.

[willowa]

Thanks for the tips. Will add a lot of thse to my list.


Forgot to mention water/bird bath.

[Silvershark]

I just plant whatever I find and see if it grows! went to Woolworths and Wilkinsons today to get some summer flowering plants. Woolworths have a great buy one get one free offer on their shrubs/climbers (I've got a Butterfly Bush, Virginia creeper, two colours of nice thorny rose bushes (wild rose looking type) and two others that I can't remember what they are...

If your garden is quite shaded, in Wilkinsons (probably in a lot of graden centres as well) there are wild flower woodland seeds, butterfly garden, and cornflower.

[Sleeper]

Hi Paul
Once the gardening bug gets you it never leaves! A real nice challenge lies ahead for you and with a little reading and chat on here and else where you will soon pick up the information you require.

I have been wildlife gardening for the past 5 years and recently put together a small website. The link is below so feel free to call in on my garden. Hope you will find some help with your questions.

Enjoy the strole in natures garden every day!

[scubapauly]

Thanks for the help folks, and please, don't stop 3:-)

This should be a good project to get my teeth into anyways. I bought an ornamental tree today. So will be putting that in a nice pot tomorrow. Hopefully the tree will look nice in the top right corner of the garden. Its a prunas amanogowa if you're interested.

I'll be checking out that website too.

Paul

[Keith Dickinson]

Try keep an area back for natural plants ie nettles etc to encourage butterflies etc. This way you get double benefit, the adult butterflies are a pretty addition to the garden and the caterpillars will feed the blue tits etc.
Also try and have a 'grotty' area, old bits of wood that sort of thing, this will encourage insects and other inverterbrates which will again encourage the birds.

[Chris Oates]

Try keep an area back for natural plants ie nettles etc to encourage butterflies etc. This way you get double benefit, the adult butterflies are a pretty addition to the garden and the caterpillars will feed the blue tits etc.
Also try and have a 'grotty' area, old bits of wood that sort of thing, this will encourage insects and other inverterbrates which will again encourage the birds.

That's my sort of gardening - everything is fairly 'grotty' - plenty of wood and leaf debris for the ground feeders to pick over, plenty of untended trees & shrubs to hide in - very little work for me.
Climbing rose bloomed today !!
I'm amazed at the birds that visit my garden (black cap, green finch, chaffinch, various Tits) as they are not at all common where I live.

I have quite a few residents though (Robin, Blackbird, Thrush, Dunnock etc) and they are queued up in the morning waiting for my latest culinary feast - they don't alarm call any more and come to me as I spread the feast - I used to sleep as late as possible before going to work - now I get up early to go attend to my friends - great fun.

[Silvershark]

Try keep an area back for natural plants ie nettles etc to encourage butterflies etc. This way you get double benefit, the adult butterflies are a pretty addition to the garden and the caterpillars will feed the blue tits etc.
Also try and have a 'grotty' area, old bits of wood that sort of thing, this will encourage insects and other inverterbrates which will again encourage the birds.

Me and my mum nicked a piece of log :'D We were walking the dog and they had been cutting the branches of the trees down and there was this REALLY nice log, so we picked it up and took it home to put in the garden! It looks very nice too :D

[Keith Dickinson]

Me and my mum nicked a piece of log :'D We were walking the dog and they had been cutting the branches of the trees down and there was this REALLY nice log, so we picked it up and took it home to put in the garden! It looks very nice too :D

It will look even better as it starts to decompose and you get fungi growing on it. You will also have beetles and other insects using it for shelter and food. If you can get a couple more of the logs you can build a little logpile which will be even more attractive to insects etc.

[Silvershark]

It will look even better as it starts to decompose and you get fungi growing on it. You will also have beetles and other insects using it for shelter and food. If you can get a couple more of the logs you can build a little logpile which will be even more attractive to insects etc.

Would have got some more but they're on the other side of the fence, they're not using them so I might see if I can swip another one (I'd really like one of the ones that looks like a tree stump) but the others are bigger and more difficult to carry. We have a logpile, but it's a bit rubbish, the wood doesn't seem to be particularly great. Got a few nice logs that have became almost ornaments in the garden though, they were just too good to be left buried beneath other logs!

[scubapauly]

The logpile is a good idea. Especially as one of my dogs always wants to carry big sticks home :D

[GDC]

Paul
You were about two months ahead of me on starting a thread. I too am wanting to create a wildlife garden and now I will just follow this one and see what I can create. Good idea and good luck

[scubapauly]

Well, I got the cherry tree planted, moved a grass (don't know the name) and added 2 new hebes in the top right hand corner of the garden (extended the first bit of border).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v668/Scubapauly/th_P1220144.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v668/Scubapauly/P1220144.jpg)

So at least I've made a start.

[hayfieldgolfer]

At Christmas was given 'The Ultimate Birdfeeder Hand Book', as my wife thought I should know more about the wildlife in the garden as the window from my office looks out on to the garden.

Needless to say the feeding station has enlarged in the hope of encouraging as many types of birds into the garden as possiable.

Last week brought 'RSPB Bird feeder Guide'. This book not only has sections on birds, (feeding and lots of other interesting sections on looking at, and after wild birds) , but also has sections on creating bird friendly gardens,and has a large section on trees, shrubs and plants which benefit bird life ( food shelter etc). Well worth the £16 price.

The book also mentions another book 'RSPB Bird Feeder Garden' not seen the book yet.

The RSBP web site has a garden section which might be of use.

There was a thread last year where a couple had a new garden which they planted out and showed the progress over sping and early summer,

Good luck and keep us informed.

[Cathy H]

Hi Paul,

Another shrub that's good for berries is the pyracantha, and it's another one the blackbirds love for berries. It's very jaggy so use gloves, and it can be put somewhere for added security too!

Birds are happiest where there is lots of cover for them to hide in for safety, so the climbers and shrubs you put in will do the job well. During the winter we have loads of brids foraging around in the borders looking for any juicy titbits, not to mention sitting in the trees having a general look around, and who knows, you may even get some building nests in the ivy when it's bigger?!!

Good luck

ps my big garden project this year is to build a wildlife pond!

Cheers, :t: :flyaway:

[scubapauly]

Funny you should mention Pyracantha Cathy H cos I had a look at some today in the local garden centre. Changed my mind now on the back wall. I think I'm going to use Pyracantha instead. According to the guy I spoke to at the garden centre, I can plant these about 2ft from each other and grow them up against the wall. Then I should be able to prune them so they stay reasonably tight against the wall and they can intertwine with each other. I think I should be able to get 5 of them in the space I have, I'm thinking 3 red berries and 2 orange berries. Could make a nice display of colour.

I've ordered 2 books hayfieldgolfer;
How to Make a Wildlife Garden by Chris Baines
and Wildlife Friendly Plants: Make Your Garden a Haven for Beneficial Insects, Amphibians and Birds by Rosemary Creeser

[Cathy H]

I wish you every success Paul.

We planted some last year but haven't had any berries yet. My cousin is in the process of making a hedge out of pyracantha, partly to feed the birds, and partly to keep the nieghbours out. (They don't get on.)

:t:

[GDC]

At Christmas was given 'The Ultimate Birdfeeder Hand Book', as my wife thought I should know more about the wildlife in the garden as the window from my office looks out on to the garden.

Needless to say the feeding station has enlarged in the hope of encouraging as many types of birds into the garden as possiable.

Last week brought 'RSPB Bird feeder Guide'. This book not only has sections on birds, (feeding and lots of other interesting sections on looking at, and after wild birds) , but also has sections on creating bird friendly gardens,and has a large section on trees, shrubs and plants which benefit bird life ( food shelter etc). Well worth the £16 price.

The book also mentions another book 'RSPB Bird Feeder Garden' not seen the book yet.

The RSBP web site has a garden section which might be of use.

There was a thread last year where a couple had a new garden which they planted out and showed the progress over sping and early summer,

Good luck and keep us informed.

Could a person get the book (Ultimate Birdfeeder Handbook) off the internet and what is the address of the RSBP web site. Thanks

[scubapauly]

Could a person get the book (Ultimate Birdfeeder Handbook) off the internet and what is the address of the RSBP web site. Thanks


Found a link for you for Amazon UK
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1843309564/203-9780051-8091115

RSPB website is www.rspb.org.uk

[hayfieldgolfer]

Could a person get the book (Ultimate Birdfeeder Handbook) off the internet and what is the address of the RSBP web site. Thanks

The RSPB Birdfeeder guide is the better of the two books.

[scubapauly]

I know a lot has been said about planting trees for birds. I was thinking about planting a plum tree in the garden as I can probably squeeze in 1 tree. The area I live in is surrounded by woodland, lots of cherry trees nearby too. So I was thinking that plum would offer something else thats not neccesarily on the menu locally, for us and the birds. It would also give the birds somewhere to perch in the garden and I could hang feeders from it when it gets a little bigger.

Wise move or not?? Your comments please lol

[beaker]

I started a thread recently on the subject of wildlife gardening and recommended some plants that worked for me,also some reference books on the subject that were useful to me.Apologies if you have already seen it,if not it can be found here.

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=48686

Andy Firth.

[Cathy H]

Scubapauly,

when we moved to Bristol there was an established plum tree in the garden. Every year it was covered in starlings when the fruit was ripe. Problem was, the garden was covered in plum stones and fruit, and we never got one.

Cheers, :eat:

[Isurus]

Hi Pauly its a bit of a tricky one this - fitting trees in a 10m X 4m - you've already come up with one solution using fastigate trees like your prunus amanogowa - you can do this wih fruit trees like your plum too by getting ballerina or miniaret cultivars. They won't offer much shelter for your birds though although your pyracantha would do that and you could interplant with low growing native shrubs.

Alternatively you could get one grafted on a restricting rootstock to keep it small enough for your garden. I think I'd be tempted to avoid a plum and go with something else though due to the shape they form (they like to and deserve to spread). Have you considered a silver birch (you could go native with Betula pendula or go ornamental with something spectacular like Betula utilis, B. jaquemontii jermyns, B. nigra heritage, B. grayswood ghost, B. albosinensis septrionalis, the list of awesome birches is endless).These cast a light shade making them pleasant for you and any plants beneath them, look nice have a reasonably upright shape, and have seed heads the birds seem to go for.

[hayfieldgolfer]

[QUOTE=scubapauly] I was thinking about planting a plum tree in the garden


We have a 'morello' cherry tree in the garden, 5 years or so ago the birds found a taste for the cherries, haven't had a pie since. Tree is also quite small.

[scubapauly]

Have you considered a silver birch (you could go native with Betula pendula or go ornamental with something spectacular like Betula utilis, B. jaquemontii jermyns, B. nigra heritage, B. grayswood ghost, B. albosinensis septrionalis, the list of awesome birches is endless).These cast a light shade making them pleasant for you and any plants beneath them, look nice have a reasonably upright shape, and have seed heads the birds seem to go for.

I thought about birch, but was told that the roots are quite close to the surface so it would probably lift up the patio.

This is my problem with putting in a tree. I have no lawn, just a big patio. Easier to keep clean with the two dogs, and they dont walk mud through the house. Any tree has to fit in the top left hand corner and will be in the shade of the 5ft fence.

Now I have a few shrubs in two of the borders I need some 'filler' in between until they get bigger. Here's some pics of what I have to wor with and what I've done so far.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v668/Scubapauly/th_RSideborder26-1-06.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v668/Scubapauly/RSideborder26-1-06.jpg)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v668/Scubapauly/th_RHCorner26-1-06.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v668/Scubapauly/RHCorner26-1-06.jpg)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v668/Scubapauly/th_RearBorder26-1-06.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v668/Scubapauly/RearBorder26-1-06.jpg)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v668/Scubapauly/th_LSideborder26-1-06.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v668/Scubapauly/LSideborder26-1-06.jpg)

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[willowa]

Looking good pauly,

I would leave a few spaces in between the plants for some colourfull annuals. They realy brighten the place up.

[Isurus]

Hi Pauly, Is that an Acer Sangokaku in the first picture? I probably wouldn't put a plum in that left corner if it were me as it might overshadow the whole space. Have you considered a large bushy shrub like a hazel (maybe a purple or gold form) or one of the bigger dogwoods? both will provide food and shelter for birds and would maybe be a bit better suited to your space.

[scubapauly]

Hi Pauly, Is that an Acer Sangokaku in the first picture? I probably wouldn't put a plum in that left corner if it were me as it might overshadow the whole space. Have you considered a large bushy shrub like a hazel (maybe a purple or gold form) or one of the bigger dogwoods? both will provide food and shelter for birds and would maybe be a bit better suited to your space.

In the first picture you can see the red dogwood I put in on Tuesday.

Plum might not be the best choice of tree then if it is going to get so bushy as to put the rest of the garden in the shade. The whole right hand side of the garden should be a great sun trap for most of the day come the summer.

I wanted to go for a tree in the left corner and then maybe have some wild flowers growing round the bottom. Just throw down a lot of seed and see what happens really.

I need to find out about the birch, whether there is a chance of it's root lifting the patio.

[hayfieldgolfer]

Paully

Go to a quality garden centre or nursery, find a knowledgable assistant, tell them what you are trying to achieve.

Give them as much information as you can, where the sun is at various times of day, eg 9.00, 12.00, 15.00 & 18.00. Also size of garden and height of fenses etc. The more informantion about the site and what you want to achieve the better the chance's you have of getting what you want.

Good luck

[scubapauly]

Paully

Go to a quality garden centre or nursery, find a knowledgable assistant, tell them what you are trying to achieve.

Give them as much information as you can, where the sun is at various times of day, eg 9.00, 12.00, 15.00 & 18.00. Also size of garden and height of fenses etc. The more informantion about the site and what you want to achieve the better the chance's you have of getting what you want.

Good luck

Funny you should suggest that, as thats what I did this morning. I took the arial shot of the garden with me to help explain. Something I hadn't thought of was the conifers in the garden next door. The guy I spoke to pointed out that they would use up most of the water that my tree would need, so getting it established could be hard.

In the end I've gone for a Hawthorn tree which I'm going to grow in a large pot. This way I can make sure it has enough water and the pot will stop it from getting too big.

Pictures to follow...

[willowa]

Have you thought about a Fatsia japonica for a pot on the patio? They are evergreen and hardy and have big leaves. They look stunning in a corner. I have three in the gaden and going to get another in spring next to the pond im going to build.
This gardening bug will not stop now.
The log roll is a good idea. You will get lots of mini beasts living in it.

Keep sending in the photos.

[scubapauly]

Have you thought about a Fatsia japonica for a pot on the patio? They are evergreen and hardy and have big leaves. They look stunning in a corner. I have three in the gaden and going to get another in spring next to the pond im going to build.
This gardening bug will not stop now.
The log roll is a good idea. You will get lots of mini beasts living in it.

Keep sending in the photos.

I think with the two trees now and the pyracanthas, thats probably all the big stuff the garden will stand.

I wish I had room for a decent pond, but reading the books, I'm tempted to put a tiny one in. Not sure tho. Because of the dogs and the site of the garden I don't really get anything in it wildlife wise, hence the reason for the spurt of gardening. But I think if I did put even a small pond in, it might attract some insect life as well as benefitting any birds that do eventually venture into the garden. It really would be nice to get some damsel fly pics.

Looking forward to adding to my macro shots this summer.

[Keith Dickinson]

When putting a pond in to ensure that it won't freeze totally you need a depth of at least 18 inches (I'm a non-metric dinosaur) in at least one area. This can be difficult with a small pond, it becomes more of a water-filled hole. If you are wanting to encourage the birds then a water feature that allows a little standing water would suffice. For insects though you have to go the whole hog and dig a biggie.

[willowa]

When putting a pond in to ensure that it won't freeze totally you need a depth of at least 18 inches (I'm a non-metric dinosaur) in at least one area. This can be difficult with a small pond, it becomes more of a water-filled hole. If you are wanting to encourage the birds then a water feature that allows a little standing water would suffice. For insects though you have to go the whole hog and dig a biggie.


I second that. You could consider a bird bath. The birds will enjoy it. or you can get ones that hang up.

[Gavin Haig]

I wish I had room for a decent pond, but reading the books, I'm tempted to put a tiny one in. Not sure tho.
10m x 4m? You do have room for a decent pond - go for it - with a butyl rubber liner if poss. We built a pond in our last garden (will get around to it in this one eventually!) and it transformed things......frogs, toads and newts materialised out of thin air; chasers, darters and damselflies invaded in squadrons.......fantastic!

Best thing you can do in a wildlife garden.......go on - you won't regret it!

[Dizzy]

If you're really stuck and not going with the 'real pond' option, why not try one of those 'half barrels'. You can still get a couple of pond plants into it and the insects will come. They're a good option for someone who really wants a water feature but stuck for space.

[scubapauly]

If you're really stuck and not going with the 'real pond' option, why not try one of those 'half barrels'. You can still get a couple of pond plants into it and the insects will come. They're a good option for someone who really wants a water feature but stuck for space.

Half barrel sounds like a good idea. I'll have to look into that one.

[willowa]

Half barrel sounds like a good idea. I'll have to look into that one.

I have got a half barrel on the patio. We had gold fish in it through the summer. One died when weather turned cold so I caught the other and put in in the big pond. The barrel is not deep enough for willife. the depth has to 18" to 2ft deep. Mine has just got Iris's in at the moment. Even the miniture water lilly has had to overwinter in the greenhouse. Just a few things to think about.
Bog gardens also attract wildlife.

[Cathy H]

Scubapauly, I bet you don't know the half of what wildlife may be in your garden.

On the beeb boards some time ago, a chap said he'd not long finished building a pond and had a six foot fence all around his garden, but the frogs still found it and he couldn't work out how. You never know!

B (: :hi:

[willowa]

We had newts.frogs and a Toad before we had the pond.... you never know what lives in your garden that you don't see.

Thought you might want to know Just posted pics on thread (my willdlife pond) on other wildlife.

[scubapauly]

Scubapauly, I bet you don't know the half of what wildlife may be in your garden.


Strangest thing I've ever found in the garden was my neighbours tortoise last summer lol. Mind you it was doing a great job of controlling the snail and slug population.

Had a robin and a wren in the garden today, but only using the fence so they could go and look through the neighbours lawn. I even went and got a ground feeder and some mealworms for them, but they still preferred the lawn. Oh well, got to remember that this takes time.

[willowa]

If you want a pond look at the size and shapes of the prefomed ones. That way you will get an idea of what shape you like. But I would'nt advise using a preformed one. What is under your slabs? It can be hard work if they are layed on concrete. but It would transform the garden. I would'nt have a pond any smaller than 8ftx6ft. They always look smaller than they are. You can grow lots of aquatic plants as well for the dragonfies that you will get. That corner of the second pic down looks like a good spot
Good luck

[scubapauly]

The only problem I have if I build a decent size pond is that my two labradors love to swim!!!!

[willowa]

The only problem I have if I build a decent size pond is that my two labradors love to swim!!!!

Yes, we had a spaniel that would not keep out of water. We could never have a pond if she was still around. She used to splash about in the kids paddling pool.
They are a water breed same as yours.

[GDC]

No matter what you have to love a good dog

[scubapauly]

Managed to get a little more done in the garden. Planted out all the Pyracanthas, potted the Hawthorn, cleared out the left hand corner and put down some red gravel. Also planted some echinacea (pink and white) in front of the pyracanthas. Just need some poached egg plants to go in the front of the borders.

Noticed today that all the sunflower hearts I sprinkled on the borders have gone. So something is feeding, but only when my back is turned lol.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v668/Scubapauly/th_1-2-06.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v668/Scubapauly/1-2-06.jpg)

[Cathy H]

It's amazing the difference a few plants can make isn't it?

You might want to think about something to climb up the fence to give some cover with height. Ivy is good and it seems that many birds nest in ivy, or clematis or something like that. It's definitely coming along though, don't you think?

Cheers,

ps We bought a mahonia after a recommendation from the ex-beebs board - it has flowers from october to march with fragrance, is evergreen and also has berries for the birds - only problem is that it's dead jaggy.

Cheers :t:

[scubapauly]

It's amazing the difference a few plants can make isn't it?

You might want to think about something to climb up the fence to give some cover with height. Ivy is good and it seems that many birds nest in ivy, or clematis or something like that. It's definitely coming along though, don't you think?

Cheers,

ps We bought a mahonia after a recommendation from the ex-beebs board - it has flowers from october to march with fragrance, is evergreen and also has berries for the birds - only problem is that it's dead jaggy.

Cheers :t:

I have a clematis that grows up the right hand fence, its a nice purple colour. Did some more work in the garden today. Extended the right hand border. Added a water feature that I got off ebay (£12) and planted some lavender at the side of it and in front of it, a blue dwarf buddleia, a mahonia (thanks Cathy) and a couple of bulbs that were on offer at the garden centre.

Looking good now I think. Just need the birds to visit at a time when I can see them (they still eat the sunflower hearts, but I think they do it very early in the morning). Might have to resort to a webcam or something covering the garden lol.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v668/Scubapauly/th_P2060212.jpg (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v668/Scubapauly/P2060212.jpg)

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Paul

[willowa]

The birds will come. Even if it's just for a drink. Soon the plants will start to fill out and in summer the boarders will look so different. You have some interesting woodland beyond the fence. keep us up to date.

[Cathy H]

It's looking good. I too noticed the woodland area nearby, that should help with visiting birds.

We live in a rural area on the edge of a village with loads of trees in the garden and round about. Even so, when the birds are feeding and they get disturbed they fly off to trees all over the place, not necessarily the ones nearby.

I'm sure that come the warmer weather, the plants will 'take off' and really make a difference. Well done on all your hard work, I'm sure it will be worth it.

Cheers :hi:

[scubapauly]

The trees to the left og the garden are my neighbours. Big conifers. Their gardens a bit overgrown. Across the road from the garden is a verge of trees and shrubs on the roadside.

To be honest we dont see that many birds around the garden anyways, but can hear them. Hopefully once it warms up a little they will do a few fly overs and see how fantastic this new garden is for them lol.

EDIT 11-2-06
1 x Siskin checkin out the feeders and dooing flybys around the garden
2 x Grea Tits on the feeders

Woooohoooo

[scubapauly]

Finally got some pics of the interested birds in the garden today.
3 Bluetits have been playing round the garden all morning.
Couldn't resist attaching a couple of pics

[Cathy H]

Hi,

The pics are lovely. You'll probably have blue tits regularly in your nest box now. We moved in 3 years ago and the nest box was already up. We've had blue tits nesting in their every year, and every year I anxiously wait to see if we end up with any tenants, and we do I'm glad to say!

Congratulations. B (: :hi:

[scubapauly]

Thought I would just post some pics of how the garden has turned out. Unfortunatley the poached egg plants have pretty much finished now but you can get the idea. Had lots of wind damage so the buddleias are leaning a bit (have to think of something for that next year). Not so many birds visiting now, a regular pair of collard doves and the occasional wood pigeon, but insects galore. Pleased with how its turned out though.

Couldnt have done it without the help I received from members here, thanks so much.

[Cathy H]

Hi Scubapauly, sorry for the delay but I've not been posting lately.

All I can say is WOW!!!!

You're garden has really bloomed (sorry about the pun). It's looking lovely. You should be very proud of yourself for all you've achieved. Just a thought about the buddleia, if you fix a couple of staples or nails to the fence you can attach some twine or garden wire to lift the buddeia a bit and stop it drooping. Don't forget that you will need to prune it right back in March down to the first bud. If you don't, it will grow inot more of a tree and the blooms will be too high for you to smell or see well.

I thought I'd let you know that we've finally finished our project for this year, our pond is now completed. The plants are looking good and we have attracted some insect life including the odd visiting dragonfly. I'm hoping to get frogs or toads in the new year, with any luck!

Cheers :t: :t: :flyaway:

[Cudyll Bach]

I have a Blueberry (not a british plant I know) bush in a pot on my patio, Thrushes seem to love them, I had an Adult and a Juvenile Song Thrush camped out in the garden last week, they virtually cleaned out all the berries on the plant. I would imagine any soft currant/berry type plant would attract plenty of sps to your garden, if you don't mind sharing the fruit that is.

[Cathy H]

Hi Iain,

I've ordered a blueberry bush recently, although I have to admit it wasn't really for the wildlife.

We've planted loads of stuff in the garden to attract wildlife and so far it seems to be working really well. We don't get sparrows here, they stop at the bottom of the hill sadly, but we plenty of other birds instead. 3:-) :-O

[scubapauly]

Thanks for the comments. The gardens turned out really well. Most of the birds seem to have dissapeared though. We only seem to get a pair of doves and the occasional wood pidgeon now. Hopefully things will pick up again during the winter.

Paul