Attracting Wildlife into the garden.
Birds are going to come in your garden. You want birds in
your garden. Some birds feed on insects and insect larva and
others, mainly finches, will eat seeds. I know many gardener's
appreciate the bluetits because they feed on the caterpillars
eating the gardener's prized, imported plants and hybrid plants,
but we need to begin to appreciate all birds and not just
the ones we view as pretty and useful. All creatures have
purpose within the eyes of natures and that includes all birds,
including magpies and crows - I mention magpies because I
know many people despise them because they will raid smaller
birds nests and eat the eggs and fledglings, but the magpie
is also an efficient desposer of carrion. All creatures die
and when they die it is important for an ecology that the
body is desposed of quickly rather than left to fester and
stink and spread disease.
More and more people are placing bird feeders in their gardens
for the seed eaters and are being rewarded by a healthy flap
of many wings, but by placing a basic food source in your
garden you will attract a whole host of other creatures, from
squirrels to hedgehogs, from badgers to rats. Birds are such
a source of joy for many people. We love to watch them and
spot and recognise different species. It is always a thrill
for me personally to see all species of wildlife in the garden.
In my garden all life is welcome and is embraced. All creatures
have a role to play in nature's master plan, apart from, perhaps,
man? I struggle to see the significant part of the pattern
man is colouring in... But I digress... I love to see all
mammals, reptiles and amphibians in the garden too. One great
way to encourage all species of wildlife is to build a pond,
or, if you have room, a lake. All life requires water, so
a waterhole is a great place for wildlife to gather. The next
thing wildlife will look for is secure cover. If you can offer
a food source, great, but many species will travel to a food
source. It is more important that they have somewhere safe
to retreat and make their dens or lairs. But one of the most
important things you MUST do when attracting wildlife into
your garden is cut out all the poisons and toxins!! No slug
pellets, no "weed" killer, no insecticides, no concentrated
chemicals, please... The food chain is a reality for all creatures
we share this planet with. As humans we tend to kill indiscriminately.
But poisoning the food chain for other life forms is, in my
opinion, one of the true evils that mankind perpetuates with
complete thoughtlessness. Embrace wildlife. All the creatures
with which you must share your garden will colour your lives.
Embrace all the colours. Please...
Top tip to encourage wildlife into your garden is to create
a source of fresh water. Ponds are excellent. But if you can't
create a pond, place a bowl in the soil and re-fresh the water
daily.
