Nature In The Garden

[Canary42]

Some years ago I responded positively to an RSPB appeal, and planted a hedge (mixed holly and beech) along the back of my garden.

It is now some 10 feet in height, and several feet thick.

The amount of birdlife it attracts is IMHO truly amazing - lots of hedge sparrows, goldfinches, blackbirds, starlings, blue tits, wood pigeons, and the ubiquitous robin of course. Plus the not-so-welcome magpie in the nesting season (I've put up several netboxes too). I'm so glad I responded, it's added hours of pleasure to my garden viewing.

I've also dedicated part of the garden to the wild, complete with small pond and a rotting timber pile and this has attracted several toads and a colony of the wonderful Stag Beetle, in addition to lots of bees and butterflies in season.

I also get regular fox visits, but sadly hedgehogs have been absent more recently.

I am now planting a tree or two in response to an appeal from Woodland Trust.

ISN'T NATURE WONDERFUL

[emmie]

it is...

[Cloverjo]

Yes. I love watching all the birds that flock to my feeder.
Love to see the fox slinking about, too.

[sherrardk]

Have you got gaps for the hedgehogs to get into your garden? I was inundated with hedgehogs last summer because they were attracted to the food I put out and two different groups were using the garden as some sort of hedgehog highway. Fingers crossed they come back again this year.

[Cloverjo]

I’d love to see hedgehogs in my garden.
Haven’t seen one for years.

[sherrardk]

Clover, the feeding station is smack bang in the middle of the patio so we can see the hedgehogs from inside the house. At one stage, they were using the garden as a knocking shop and there were so many they were running over my feet - there were 12 of them running about one night, it was mad.

[hereIam]

Very well done Canary - I'm impressed.

[bookbinder]

Nature certainly is wonderful, although I don't think that a pigeon that I saw taken by a sparrow hawk a few days ago would share that opinion!

[rowanwitch]

Well done, I only have a balcony, but feeders and water bring blue and great tits, and a noisy robin. Single flowers attract bee s and I have put up a next box. It takes so little but better to do a lot. The rewards are amazing

[Chipchopper]

Well done canery! I too have devoted my garden and it gives me endless hours of pleasure and interest. Build it and they will come, thats so true.
I have about 6 bird nesting box's, a hedge hog box, dore mouse box and many others to attract bugs and beasties.
I think the spring is the best time to enjoy nature in the garden, as it all starts to come to life