Attracting wildlife

[pebbles]

:)hi there, last year I started to design my garden I want to use plants to attract wildlife, I'v aready got lavenders,a buddleia and a few other plants. has anyone else got any suggestions what I could plant to bring the wildlife to my garden, love to hear from you.

[martyn]

Stuff with berries is a safe bet, and let the stuff grow rather than manicure it, gives them a bit more cover and is more natural.

Put up a feeder with sunflower hearts in, near the cover of trees and shrubs, this will help attract the birds.

[Jenny]

Have an area - if space - for things like nettles, thistles, grasses and brambles and use native plants where possible. If you can't have a pond, make a small boggy patch - great insect attractor. Mainly tubs - move them frequently for a couple of hours either early morning or mid/late pm to let the birds get at the worms and slugs and grow plants for birds/insects. If you have space to have a small log pile, you may get hedgehogs and it's also good for the bugs as well. I found a toad under mine as well - bit of a shock! Hollies (if you have male and female ones) are great for their fruit but also, if allowed to grow, provide safe roosts for small birds - even the neighbourhood's most voracious bird killing won't go near!

But it comes down to where you are, space available, aspect and soil. I'm no gardener though I used to have a fabulous cottage garden years back that had largely got overgrown and had a real wealth of wildlife! It's much more of a struggle here - currently we've got 60mph winds and worst hasn't hit us yet - a bog for a lawn and can't do much as orchids and other wildflowers are spreading like mad!

Good luck!

[pebbles]

Thanks to you both for you great ideas,like the idea of the log pile to attract insects.hope to give some of your ideas a go.let you know how i get on .