5 YEAR GUARANTEE 
It’s an exciting time for garden enthusiasts and wildlife watchers alike. This transitional period is crucial for the preparation of your garden to welcome a diverse array of garden wildlife. From the tiniest insects to the more visible garden birds and elusive mammals like hedgehogs, ensuring your garden is a welcoming habitat can make a significant difference in their survival and wellbeing. Let’s delve into the essential tasks to include in your March to-do list to transform your garden into a sanctuary for wildlife.
Setting the Stage for Early Nesters
It’s time to focus on the avian inhabitants of our gardens looking to establish their new homes for the season. Early nesters such as robins, blackbirds, and thrushes are on the lookout for secure and comfortable nesting sites. A simple yet effective way to support these feathered friends is by maintaining or setting up bird boxes. These should be cleaned thoroughly if they were used in previous years or carefully positioned if new. Optimal placement involves orienting the entrance north or east to shield occupants from direct sunlight and prevailing winds, whilst ensuring they are mounted out of reach of predators. Additionally, scattering natural nesting materials around your garden, such as twigs, moss, and bits of wool, can not only facilitate the nest-building process for these birds but also encourage them to choose your garden as their spring residence. This effort aids in creating a welcoming environment for birds to raise their young, enhancing the natural balance and beauty of your outdoor space.
Cultivating a Pollinator’s Paradise
By selecting a variety of native plants that flower at successive intervals, you ensure a steady provision of nourishment for bees, butterflies, and other pollinating insects. Directly sow seeds of pollinator favourites such as lavender, foxgloves, and verbena; these plants not only attract pollinators but also add vibrant colour and fragrance to your garden. Early bloomers like crocus and primrose are especially valuable, offering vital nectar to bees as they awaken from their winter rest. To truly support these crucial garden allies, it’s imperative to eschew pesticides and herbicides. These chemicals can detrimentally affect the pollinators you’re endeavouring to attract and protect. By creating a chemical-free environment, replete with a rich variety of flowering plants, your garden will become a haven for pollinators, playing a pivotal role in the health of our ecosystems.
Building a Bug Hotel
A bug hotel is an excellent addition to any garden looking to support garden wildlife, particularly the smaller, often overlooked, creatures that play vital roles in our ecosystems. Crafting one is not only a fantastic weekend project but also an engaging way to recycle materials that might otherwise be discarded. Utilise a variety of repurposed items such as wooden pallets, hollow bamboo canes, bricks with holes, and natural materials like pine cones, dried leaves, and straw. These elements, layered and arranged thoughtfully, create intricate nooks and crannies that cater to the diverse needs of insects, from solitary bees seeking nesting sites to ladybirds hunting for a winter refuge. Positioning your bug hotel in a secluded part of the garden, ideally near blooming plants, ensures that these tiny guests have access to food sources while offering them a sanctuary. Observing the array of insects that take up residence can provide insightful observations into the ecological balance of your garden. A well-placed and thoughtfully constructed bug hotel not only augments the aesthetic appeal of your garden but plays a critical role in supporting the health and diversity of garden ecosystems.
Water Features for Wildlife
Adding water elements to your garden significantly enhances its attractiveness to various species, serving as a critical resource for hydration and bathing. A straightforward bird bath or a modestly sized dish placed on the ground can prove invaluable to birds, insects, and small mammals, offering relief and sustenance during periods of limited rainfall. For those with more space, introducing a pond can diversify the range of visiting wildlife, drawing in amphibians such as frogs and newts. It’s important to include shallow zones or construct a gentle slope to ensure safe entry and exit for all creatures. Regular maintenance to keep the water pristine and devoid of harmful substances is imperative for the health of both aquatic and visiting species. A vibrant, well-maintained pond or water feature not only provides critical support to wildlife but also becomes an engaging spectacle in your garden, inviting an array of species to drink, bathe, and inhabit.
Preparing for Hedgehog Visitors
It’s paramount to tailor your garden to be a welcoming haven for these delightful creatures. Begin by meticulously removing hazards that could pose risks, such as loose netting, plastics, or any sharp items lurking within your outdoor space. Fostering a hedgehog-friendly environment involves leaving certain areas untouched, allowing the natural clutter of leaves and logs to form cosy nooks for shelter. An innovative addition to your garden could be the creation of a hedgehog highway; a small, hedgehog-sized aperture (approximately 13cm x 13cm) in your garden’s boundary fences facilitates their nocturnal wanderings in search of sustenance. Additionally, establishing a feeding haven with suitable food, like meat-based pet fare alongside a water bowl, could provide much-needed nutrition for these nocturnal allies. These endeavours not only safeguard these charming garden inhabitants but also encourage a natural approach to pest control, as hedgehogs have a penchant for dining on garden pests. Creating such conditions welcomes hedgehogs into your garden, ensuring their well-being and enriching the biodiversity of your outdoor haven.
