I've done what @robairdmacraignil has suggested, removed my bird feeders and added a range of plants with berries and seeds which birds feed on naturally. The blackbirds can't get enough rowan berries and the smaller birds are attracted by aphids and other small invertebrates.
I did notice when I had feeders though that most birds are very canny - they swoop in quickly, select the seed they like from the feeder (shunting out the ones they dislike) and fly off into the cover of surrounding trees and shrubs to eat it or deliver it to their nest.
The exception is pigeons who linger and make constant visits to sweep up the seed that the other birds have rejected or spilled. This was actually the main reason I removed the feeders - the pigeons were constantly lurking on my roof to keep watch on the feeders and any likely spillages! Worse than cats in my opinion!
Thank you for all your plant suggestions, I've taken notes. Making the garden wildlife friendly works for me. I know it's winter, but there's no wildlife in the garden at all (maybe I should be grateful ) Don't think I've seen a single bird. I've spotted several ladybirds hiding behind cupboards in the house though.
A long time ago I had a garden pond, it was a fascinating project busy with damsel and dragon flies, waterboatmen beetles etc. I lost interest because of feline and heron visits that robbed the pond of the fish. I've manage to cultivate a bit more patience these days
Thank you for all your plant suggestions, I've taken notes. Making the garden wildlife friendly works for me. I know it's winter, but there's no wildlife in the garden at all (maybe I should be grateful ) Don't think I've seen a single bird. I've spotted several ladybirds hiding behind cupboards in the house though.
A long time ago I had a garden pond, it was a fascinating project busy with damsel and dragon flies, waterboatmen beetles etc. I lost interest because of feline and heron visits that robbed the pond of the fish. I've manage to cultivate a bit more patience these days
There are no birds in your garden at present because there is nothing to attract them and make them stay. That does not mean there are not birds around and in the wider area, there almost certainly are. As has been said, planting plants that attract invertebrates will attract species further up the food chain. My advice would be to accept recommendations by bodies such as the wildlife trusts and RSPB as well as individuals with personal experience from their own gardens. I have been gardening for wildlife for many years and have learned that native species are good, berrying plants, both native and non native are good and herbaceous perennials and shrubs with single flowers rather than doubles are better.
Fish are not a good addition to a garden pond; they eat the insect larvae, tadpoles and newts and unless a native species (sticklebacks, roach and similar) really are not the things to add to a pond in which you want to attract wildlife. Personally I have not included fish in my pond but if natives arrive of their own accord, say eggs on the feet of a heron or duck, I will allow them to stay. Of course Grey Herons will visit; they are among the local wildlife, in the same way as, say a Kingfisher or Mallards are. If you want a wildlife garden it is a given that you will attract predators.
One of the things I've learned in my years of gardening for wildlife is that you will not have the prettiest or most attractive garden around but plant the right plants and allow a bit of messiness and the wildlife will come and some of it will stay.
Also, looking at your picture in the first post; those fences are crying out for climbers and things to grow against them. This will also enrich your garden to a great extent, given careful choice of plants.
Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
I HAVE to defend goldfish. They DO NOT eat tadpoles or newts and, if my pond is anything to go by, they make little impact on invertebrates. Newts are fierce predators and they DO eat tadpoles and invertebrates. You can net against herons if you choose to.
I HAVE to defend goldfish. They DO NOT eat tadpoles or newts and, if my pond is anything to go by, they make little impact on invertebrates. Newts are fierce predators and they DO eat tadpoles and invertebrates. You can net against herons if you choose to.
I have to disagree; goldfish are carp and non native and they most certainly do eat tadpoles and invertebrates. They are detrimental to a wildlife pond.
Newts are predators too but they are native to the UK and contribute to the balance of a healthy pond. As stated above, a wildlife garden will attract predators. Anyone who thinks otherwise needs to study basic biology.
Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
It's true that goldfish aren't native but I cannot condemn them for that, and they don't eat my tadpoles, the newts don't leave them long enough for the fish to get a look in. My pond is packed with life, we get wonderful damsel flies and dragon flies and loads of creatures I cannot identify. In fact, far more than the natural pond a few yards away. We also attract bats, grass snakes and so on. However, it's a personal choice.
One of the things I've learned in my years of gardening for wildlife is that you will not have the prettiest or most attractive garden around but plant the right plants and allow a bit of messiness and the wildlife will come and some of it will stay.
Also, looking at your picture in the first post; those fences are crying out for climbers and things to grow against them. This will also enrich your garden to a great extent, given careful choice of plants.
Thank you Redwing, I thought fish was a major part of the ecology of a pond, I need to rethink!
I've not had an English garden since 1996 because of living abroad and on a boat. My Mediterranean garden of 14 years was so very different with rubber plants and plumbagoes growing out of control! I've forgotten so much about gardening in the UK, for instance I'd just go down the local garden centre for a bale of peat to condition the soil.... something that I hear is a no-no in today's gardens. Relearning is going to be fun!
I'm going to draw up a plan and try to stick with the plants on the plan (hoping sticking to plan might be helpful budget wise). If I may, I'll post my plan on this forum and hope for constructive feedback.
Thanks everyone for your input, can feel my fingers are itching to get going.
@Jenny_Aster Re: Don't think I've seen a single bird.
What you need to attract birds is height and water. We planted this year a lilac tree (just 1,5 meters) and it took the birds only 1 month and they were sitting on it watching if the bird bath nearby was free to access. The tree has grown since then by another 20 or 30 cm, and looking at the buds, I think it will have more leaves next summer.
What planting for wild-life concerns, I recommend to visit your local garden centre at the beginning of February. That's the time when they will have the wild-life plants for sale. They are much easier to keep than many of the herbaceous plants. For example, I have 2 stunning verbascum plants (got 3 meters high and 1.5 meters radius), and the bees loved them, and there are still flowers now in December. What I also noticed is that the big leaves from the verbascum plants were used as resting place, which is not less important than the flowers for the nectar. I also recommend Linaria Purpurea and a blackberry plant, bees are crazy for the flowers.
Posts
I did notice when I had feeders though that most birds are very canny - they swoop in quickly, select the seed they like from the feeder (shunting out the ones they dislike) and fly off into the cover of surrounding trees and shrubs to eat it or deliver it to their nest.
The exception is pigeons who linger and make constant visits to sweep up the seed that the other birds have rejected or spilled. This was actually the main reason I removed the feeders - the pigeons were constantly lurking on my roof to keep watch on the feeders and any likely spillages! Worse than cats in my opinion!
A long time ago I had a garden pond, it was a fascinating project busy with damsel and dragon flies, waterboatmen beetles etc. I lost interest because of feline and heron visits that robbed the pond of the fish. I've manage to cultivate a bit more patience these days
The RSPB have an interesting page https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/advice/gardening-for-wildlife/animal-deterrents/cats-and-garden-birds/cat-deterrents/
Again, many thanks
Cambridgeshire/Norfolk border.
Fish are not a good addition to a garden pond; they eat the insect larvae, tadpoles and newts and unless a native species (sticklebacks, roach and similar) really are not the things to add to a pond in which you want to attract wildlife. Personally I have not included fish in my pond but if natives arrive of their own accord, say eggs on the feet of a heron or duck, I will allow them to stay. Of course Grey Herons will visit; they are among the local wildlife, in the same way as, say a Kingfisher or Mallards are. If you want a wildlife garden it is a given that you will attract predators.
One of the things I've learned in my years of gardening for wildlife is that you will not have the prettiest or most attractive garden around but plant the right plants and allow a bit of messiness and the wildlife will come and some of it will stay.
Also, looking at your picture in the first post; those fences are crying out for climbers and things to grow against them. This will also enrich your garden to a great extent, given careful choice of plants.
Newts are predators too but they are native to the UK and contribute to the balance of a healthy pond. As stated above, a wildlife garden will attract predators. Anyone who thinks otherwise needs to study basic biology.
I've not had an English garden since 1996 because of living abroad and on a boat. My Mediterranean garden of 14 years was so very different with rubber plants and plumbagoes growing out of control! I've forgotten so much about gardening in the UK, for instance I'd just go down the local garden centre for a bale of peat to condition the soil.... something that I hear is a no-no in today's gardens. Relearning is going to be fun!
I'm going to draw up a plan and try to stick with the plants on the plan (hoping sticking to plan might be helpful budget wise). If I may, I'll post my plan on this forum and hope for constructive feedback.
Thanks everyone for your input, can feel my fingers are itching to get going.
Cambridgeshire/Norfolk border.
Re: Don't think I've seen a single bird.
What you need to attract birds is height and water.
We planted this year a lilac tree (just 1,5 meters) and it took the birds only 1 month and they were sitting on it watching if the bird bath nearby was free to access. The tree has grown since then by another 20 or 30 cm, and looking at the buds, I think it will have more leaves next summer.
What planting for wild-life concerns, I recommend to visit your local garden centre at the beginning of February. That's the time when they will have the wild-life plants for sale. They are much easier to keep than many of the herbaceous plants. For example, I have 2 stunning verbascum plants (got 3 meters high and 1.5 meters radius), and the bees loved them, and there are still flowers now in December. What I also noticed is that the big leaves from the verbascum plants were used as resting place, which is not less important than the flowers for the nectar.
I also recommend Linaria Purpurea and a blackberry plant, bees are crazy for the flowers.
I ♥ my garden.
Just an addition: We visited the Slimbridge Wetland Centre in Autumn and I found this inspiring.
I ♥ my garden.
Cambridgeshire/Norfolk border.