Add news
News Every Day |

I’m a wildlife expert – birds are obsessed with this surprising £2 Poundland product – and it’s not what you’d expect

WHAT do you see when you look out of your window?

If you’re lucky, maybe some busy birds readying themselves for nesting season and bees and insects slowly starting to emerge.

Sean McMenemy
It’s the beginning of nesting season, so birds are out in force[/caption]
zoe cooper
Shaun McMenemy from Ark Wildlife, wants to everyone to encourage more wildlife[/caption]

Or an urban fox, badger or even deer skulking about. 

But what if you could encourage more?

The more wildlife your outside space is home to – the more vibrant and healthy it becomes.

A decent ecosystem creates healthy soil, and crucially, there’s less risk of pests.

And of course birds and insects help with pollination to keep the world turning.

Sean McMenemy from Ark Wildlife, wants to inspire as many people as possible to make one small, simple change to benefit the creatures in their outdoor spaces.

He told Sun Gardening: “It’s crucial we encourage wildlife to our gardens for both humans and nature.

“Hedgehogs for example are close to extinct in the countryside and our gardens are their last refuge!

“Birds too. We’ve seen massive declines in bird populations, many down 70 per cent or more in the last few decades.

“Encouraging birds and other wildlife has been proven to improve human mental health and reduce the symptoms of depression, as well protecting ‘at risk’ species!

Countryfile's John Craven speaks to a wildlife expert on the BBC show
BEARD WATCH
Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:40
Loaded: 0.00%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:40
 
1x
  • Chapters
  • descriptions off, selected
  • captions off, selected
  • en (Main), selected

“Helping and encouraging wildlife in our gardens really is a win,
win!”

Here’s his top tips:

  • Create a “Living Sculpture Garden. Train ivy up poles and arches to create natural topiary shapes that provide year-round shelter for wildlife.  Add solar-powered fairy lights to create an enchanting evening atmosphere that will also attract moths and bats
  • Allow beneficial “weeds” like clover, dandelions, and plantain to flourish. These plants create a natural bird buffet, with dandelions feeding early pollinators and birds feasting on the seeds.
  • Plant night-scented flowers like honeysuckle and evening primrose to attract moths and nocturnal pollinators, install bat boxes on tall structures, and create moonlight paths using light-coloured stones. Don’t forget to add owl nesting boxes high up in quiet corners for your nighttime visitors.
  • Transform dead tree stumps into “Dead Tree Art” by keeping them as natural sculptures and drilling holes of different sizes for solitary bees. These features will evolve over time as woodpeckers and insects create their own fascinating patterns.
  • Create an “Avian Day Spa” using old pans and pots to create multi-level bird baths of differing depths and sizes. Add a gentle solar-powered fountain as the glistening water will attract dragonflies and damsels, as well as birds. Place in a sunny location and surround it with smooth rocks, for insects and birds to sunbathe and preen. Currently
  • The “Bird Band Room” brings sound into your garden with natural wind chimes made from bamboo or hollow reeds. Many birds are attracted to gentle tinkling sounds, and some species such as starlings might even try to mimic them. You can buy a bamboo wind chime for £2 from Poundland right now.
  • Build a ‘Hoverfly Lagoon’ by filling glass jars with stagnant water and decomposing plant material like leaves and twigs. Hoverflies are great for pollination AND their larvae feed on pests like aphids.

For a free bird identifier guide – visit the Peckish Bird Food website

ALSO IN VERONICA'S COLUMN THIS WEEK....

Gardening news, top tips and a £230 Primeur Planters competition

NEWS! THE Dogs Trust have issued a warning over spring bulbs that can make your pet poorly. Keep an eye out for symptoms like vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy, and, in severe cases, seizures. Make sure your dog can’t dig up or access daffodils, tulips, bluebells, rhododendron and azaleas, and amaryllis. Other spring plants that can cause problems include Buttercups, Crocuses, Primrose, Cyclamen, Elderberry, Foxglove (leaves and seeds), Hyacinth (bulbs) and Lupin (leaves, seeds).
For more information on which plants are poisonous to dogs, visit the Dogs Trust website.

TOP TIP! IT’S the perfect time to plant bare root roses.
And  Liam Beddall, Senior Rose Consultant at David Austin Roses, has got some top tips.

  • Before planting, soak the roots of your bare root rose for at least two hours, or overnight if possible. If you can’t plant them immediately, store the roses in their original packaging in a cool, dry place for up to three weeks, ensuring they are protected from frost.
  • Bare root roses prefer well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Make sure your planting site gets at least four hours of sunlight each day. Good air circulation is crucial to prevent disease
  • Start by digging a hole twice as wide and slightly deeper than the root system. Mix compost, well-rotted manure or soil improver to improve fertility. Ensure the graft union (the swollen area where the rose is grafted onto the rootstock) is buried two to three inches below the soil surface. 
  • Fill in the hole with soil and water.

NEWS! From today (15) until March 23, visit the RHS gardens – including Bridgewater, Harlow Carr,  Hyde Hall, Rosemoor and Wisley, armed a digital or physical National Lottery ticket, Scratchcard or Instant Win game – and you’ll only pay £1 entry.

JOB OF THE WEEK – start pruning your hydrangeas back hard  – to the second bud – to ensure lots of flowers. And you can start cutting back ferns that are getting a bit straggly.

TOP TIP Make a lovely bird feeder with an old cup and saucer. Superglue the cup on its side on the saucer so the handle is pointing upwards. Thread string through the handle to hang. Put seed in the cup so it spills out into the saucer.

WIN!! One Sun Gardening reader can win a selection of Sonata Primeur Planters worth £233. This includes TWO 70cm pots, TWO 50cm and TWO 30cm. To enter visit www.thesun.co.uk/Primeurcomp or write to Sun Primeur Comp, PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP. Include your name, age, email or phone. UK residents 18+ only. Ends 23.59GMT 29.3.25 T&Cs apply.

For more tips and gardening content, follow me @biros_and_bloom

Москва

Здравствуй, юность без зубов: почему зумеры лишились «восьмерок»

Реклама
Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this

UBS follows Deutsche Bank by banning staff from working remotely on both Friday and Monday

Norman residents recount Friday wildfires, in disbelief over devastation

Cincinnati Reds Opening Day Roster Projection, Volume II

Orlando emerges as a potential destination for the Rays

Ria.city
Реклама
  • ИП Попов А.П.
  • ИНН: 602715631406
Ревматолог: "16 марта 2024 в г.Колумбус запущена квота"

Каждый человек с больными суставами имеет право получить...






Реклама
  • ИП Попов А.П.
  • ИНН: 602715631406
Ревматолог: "16 марта 2024 в г.Колумбус запущена квота"

Каждый человек с больными суставами имеет право получить...


Реклама
  • ИП Попов А.П.
  • ИНН: 602715631406
Ревматолог: "16 марта 2024 в г.Колумбус запущена квота"

Каждый человек с больными суставами имеет право получить...

Read also

£31m ace starts, Dorgu absent | Predicted Man Utd line-up (3-4-2-1) vs Leicester with Heaven decision made

Renowned Odia poet and ex-bureaucrat Ramakanta Rath passes away at 91

Quinton Byfield scores in OT, Kings beat Predators 1-0 for 5th straight victory

News, articles, comments, with a minute-by-minute update, now on Today24.pro

News Every Day

Orlando emerges as a potential destination for the Rays

Today24.pro — latest news 24/7. You can add your news instantly now — here


News Every Day

Orlando emerges as a potential destination for the Rays



Sports today


Новости тенниса
WTA

Соболенко стала полуфиналисткой турнира WTA-1000 в Индиан-Уэллсе



Спорт в России и мире
Москва

Даниил Медведев проиграл в полуфинале турнира Masters в Индиан-Уэллсе



All sports news today





Sports in Russia today

Москва

Президенту Федерации фехтования Самарской области присвоено звание заслуженного тренера России


Новости России

Game News

The PC Gaming Show returns this June


Реклама
The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine

Реклама
The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine

Реклама
Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this

Russian.city

Реклама
The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine



Губернаторы России
Владимир Путин

Путин пригласил президента Венесуэлы Мадуро в Москву на 9 Мая


«Она росла в мире эстрады и музыки»: какой Юлия Началова была в детстве и юности

DатаРу запускает программу поддержки технологических стартапов

"КИБЕР КОРОЛЬ, БЕЛЫЙ БРАТ, ВОЖДЬ КРАСНОКОЖИХ" ЛИБО "СВЯТОЙ ЛЕНИН" МЕССИЯ? СЕНСАЦИЯ! Дональд Трамп, В.В. Путин. Новости. Россия, США, Европа могут улучшить отношения и здоровье общества?!

Власти Москвы поздравили работников ЖКХ с профессиональным праздником


Виктория Дайнеко выходит замуж: Певица получила предложение руки и сердца во время матча «Локомотив» - «Динамо»

Диагноз Оксимирона*, беременность девушки Павла Дурова и миллионные долги Элджея: ищите эксклюзивный контент Super в Дзен Премиум

Телеведущая Ксения Собчак повторила танец с Тимати на вечеринке в Куршевеле

С уехавшего в США внука Пугачевой и его жены требуют взыскать ₽2,3 млн


Петрова объяснила эмоциональное поведение Медведева после победы над Фисом в Индиан-Уэллсе

Даниил Медведев проиграл в полуфинале турнира Masters в Индиан-Уэллсе

Андреева — о победе над Свёнтек: во втором сете соперница меня буквально убила

Теннисист Даниил Медведев пробился в ½ финала «Мастерса» в Индиан-Уэллсе


Реклама
Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this


В Вологодской области стартует проект «Движение по вертикали. Памяти Станислава Говорухина»

это строка мета тайтл - заполненные данные реальные

Кондрашов Станислав Дмитриевич о том, как правильно шутить в рабочей среде

это строка мета тайтл - заполненные данные реальные


Магия весны в интерьере от Fix Price

Кубок мира по скоростному спуску на коньках в Нижнем Новгороде

«Предсказать исход предстоящей игры невозможно» // Владимир Осипов — о дерби «Спартак»—«Зенит»

Казанский судейский заговор и ответ «Торпедо» перед «Локомотива» за дерзость


Повседневное искусство: как обезопасить квартиру в период аллергии

Молодежь Южного Тушино участвует в волонтерской деятельности

Минздрав РФ ужесточит проверку водителей на алкоголь и наркотики

Пианист Станислав Корчагин сыграет воронежцам Листа и Дворжака с симфоническим оркестром ВКЗ


Реклама
The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine


Путин в России и мире
Реклама
Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this



Реклама
The most beautiful beach towns with cheap living

A huge number of people around the world dream of one day breaking out of the daily routine





Реклама
Top 6 nutrition questions men should ask themselves after 40

To maintain health and remain full of energy, men will be helped by this

Персональные новости Russian.city
Композитор

Композитор София Губайдулина умерла на 94-м году жизни



News Every Day

Cincinnati Reds Opening Day Roster Projection, Volume II




Friends of Today24

Музыкальные новости

Персональные новости