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.
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!
“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