Attracting Wildlife

[runnerbean]

I would like to turn a patch of my garden over for the bees, butterflies, lady birds, frogs and toads, and I was wondering about what plants and flowers I can grow to attract wildlife, I am going to let some of my lawn grow wild and place a container with water in and place some rocks inside to encourage frogs and toad maybe to spawn next Spring, all ideas and suggestions thankfully received. Happy Gardening

[Nick the Grief]

Hi RB,

See if you can get hold of either Chris Baines book How to Make a Wildlife Garden or Chris packhams book Back Garden Nature Reserve ( I saw this for about £8 in hardback from the Warwickshire Wildlife trusts shop recently and I know they have a shop in Solihull so it may be worth a trip.

As to plants, stear clear of the Foreign versions of native plants they don't work so well but a buddliea ( one of the exceptions to the foreign plant rule) other plants, sedum spectabile (Ice plant) and Michelmass daisy's.

You don't need a jungle to have wildlife but you don't want it neat & tidy either. A log pile is good for all sorts of stuff as is a pond ( google Wildtrack pond that will show you what you want).

Your Lawn, if you want wild flowers in it I suggest you get the HDRA catalogue and buy the seperate seed rather than a mixture as that won't really compeat to well with the Grass at first and grow them in plug trays then plant out the plugs in spring. Keep the paths mown & manicureed then it will be obvious that you are intendig it to look this way and your not just an idle git who can't be arsed to cut the grass

Bird feeders are a must and you can get/make a table really easy if you want and they will soon get to know you have food and start to feed there. Fat balls are good but you can make your own if you want to and add all sorts of stuff. A good site to visit is CJ wildlife.

If you need any further help drop me a mail & I'll help if I can. One word of warning though...... it's addictive & can lead to an expensive obssesion

[runnerbean]

Thanks Nick the Grief, your information was great, I used to feed the birds, but unfortunately it attracted the rats, and I hate rats, so I stopped feeding the birds, I do put out fat balls, suspended from a nylon rope, so cats, squirrels, and rats cannot climb onto, and I do leave water for the birds to drink and bathe in. What do you think about the houses for lady-birds and lace wings, do they work? Thanks once again. Happy Gradening.

[Nick the Grief]

I've never tried those but again you can make your own really cheaply and it's more satisfying than buying them