I agree with @Redwing about the fences. I would plant the prickly plants, such as pyracantha and roses to grow up the fences, along with some shrubs, especially those with berries - such as cotoneaster. That would give the birds somewhere to roost and hide. Birds often don't go to bird feeders that are very exposed.
I would plant the bed in the middle with flowers that attract bees and insects, such as lavender and salvias. That would look pretty from the house and provide nectar and cover for other sorts of wildlife. You could plant some wildflowers in part of the lawn or even dig up a bit of the lawn and sow wildflowers and yellow rattle (which inhibits grass).
If the garden is planted with flowers, shrubs, a rowan tree or crab apple and an amelanchier (trees with fruit or berries for birds) and a rubbish area for compost, log pile (for insects and toads) and a small pond then wild life and birds will arrive. You can put up bird feeders too if you like. My birds are pretty agile and when I had a cat she hardly managed to catch any.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
Hi @Jenny_Aster, there's lots of information available on wildlife gardening on the internet. Combine this with the tried and tested experience of the keen contributors to this forum and you'll be well on your way! As you're keen to get going, the simple advice and plant lists in this RHS guidance for schools might help you:
The usual advice when planning and planting any new garden is to get the structure in first; that is the trees and larger shrubs, the bones of the garden as it's often referred to. Decide what you want and where you want to put them and if it were my garden I would do it now, this winter. There are bare rooted trees and shrubs available now and they are a lot cheaper than potted plants available throughout the year. The detail can be left until later.
Where is your garden and what type of soil do you have? And just as important for making a wildlife garden is what is the wider habitat? For example is it suburbia, on the edge of the countryside and if so what is that habitat? This will affect what species of fauna you are likely to attract. This will probably affect your choices as you will probably want to choose native species or their close cultivars that will do well on your soil type and the wider habitat. There are a lot of knowledgeable people on this forum, many with specialist knowledge. And also decide where the pond will be located, if you will be making one, and I would recommend that you do.
Based in Sussex, I garden to encourage as many birds to my garden as possible.
To attract birds you have to think holistically about what they need and what will attract other wildlife to the garden and essential food will include a source of juicy insects, larvae and aphids to feed their nestlings in spring and summer and that means planting pollinator friendly, nectar rich plants. The RHS website has 3 lists you can download and then research to find what will suit your garden conditions - https://www.rhs.org.uk/science/conservation-biodiversity/wildlife/plants-for-pollinators
Next they need shelter such as shrubs into which they can dive to escape from cats, children and birds of prey. After that they need water for drinking and bathing.
I have 2 cats and 2 dogs and lots of birds of prey here but only lose one or two pigeons and collared doves to birds of prey. None lost so far to the cats tho they do occasionally bring me a live sparrow or great tit which I rescue and release. They're far more interested in mice.
I hang fat blocks and fat balls, minus netting, from metal supports which I have placed well away from cat pouncing range. That would be a solution for you while you wait for shrubs/trees/wall shrubs and climbers to grow big enough. The mixed seed for ground feeders goes on a slab with a clear space around it. A bird table would protect ground feeders from both cats and dogs.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast. "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
Thank you for your help everyone, your advice is much appreciated.
Think I've now formed a plan, nothing's set in stone though. It'll help to build the structure, and to make a 'shopping list'.
Think there'll be lots of hideaways for 'little things' to happily hide and breed.
I'm keeping things as simple as possible for now as my husband isn't very well and the plan I believe will easily be achievable by me over the next winter months.
So here's my plan... I'm no Picasso, it's basic, but I do hope it's readable, it's a WIP! (The blue squares should be 1 sq metre - garden is roughly 9mx10m.)
I've been given about a doz dwarf box hedge plants, and 2 buddleias (wrongly spelt Budlias in the plan - they're each in the far corners. Plus we've been given a David Austin £100 voucher which will pay for the roses. The rest goes on my shopping/Santa's list.
Jenny, you have some lovely plants listed there but I think you may need to cut the number by about half! A rambling rose is certainly going to be too big and you have three! I feel there are far too many trees, too. I don't want to discourage you, but you have to think of the mature size, not the sapling. See what others say.
Jenny, you have some lovely plants listed there but I think you may need to cut the number by about half! A rambling rose is certainly going to be too big and you have three! I feel there are far too many trees, too. I don't want to discourage you, but you have to think of the mature size, not the sapling. See what others say.
Thank you Posy, that's the story of my life.... always OTT
Those borders are extremely narrow if those blue squares are 1 metre.
I'd agree with @Posy - far too many plants for the space. An average Buddleia davidii for example, would fill one of those corner areas by itself. Same with most Cornus [dogwoods] It's not just the ultimate size that's important, it's also the effect each one has on neighbouring planting, re shade and competition for moisture and nutrients etc
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Yes I can see what you mean. What I should also say is that I've no idea about the size of borders, only that where necessary they'll grow. Obviously I don't want them so big I'll be weeding all the time, though I do want the plants to live happily together.
Maybe my 'suck it an see' mentality needs adjusting
Posts
I would plant the bed in the middle with flowers that attract bees and insects, such as lavender and salvias. That would look pretty from the house and provide nectar and cover for other sorts of wildlife. You could plant some wildflowers in part of the lawn or even dig up a bit of the lawn and sow wildflowers and yellow rattle (which inhibits grass).
If the garden is planted with flowers, shrubs, a rowan tree or crab apple and an amelanchier (trees with fruit or berries for birds) and a rubbish area for compost, log pile (for insects and toads) and a small pond then wild life and birds will arrive. You can put up bird feeders too if you like. My birds are pretty agile and when I had a cat she hardly managed to catch any.
Plants for a wildlife garden / RHS Campaign for School Gardening
Enjoy your planning and planting!
Where is your garden and what type of soil do you have? And just as important for making a wildlife garden is what is the wider habitat? For example is it suburbia, on the edge of the countryside and if so what is that habitat? This will affect what species of fauna you are likely to attract. This will probably affect your choices as you will probably want to choose native species or their close cultivars that will do well on your soil type and the wider habitat. There are a lot of knowledgeable people on this forum, many with specialist knowledge. And also decide where the pond will be located, if you will be making one, and I would recommend that you do.
Next they need shelter such as shrubs into which they can dive to escape from cats, children and birds of prey. After that they need water for drinking and bathing.
I have 2 cats and 2 dogs and lots of birds of prey here but only lose one or two pigeons and collared doves to birds of prey. None lost so far to the cats tho they do occasionally bring me a live sparrow or great tit which I rescue and release. They're far more interested in mice.
I hang fat blocks and fat balls, minus netting, from metal supports which I have placed well away from cat pouncing range. That would be a solution for you while you wait for shrubs/trees/wall shrubs and climbers to grow big enough. The mixed seed for ground feeders goes on a slab with a clear space around it. A bird table would protect ground feeders from both cats and dogs.
"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
Think I've now formed a plan, nothing's set in stone though. It'll help to build the structure, and to make a 'shopping list'.
Think there'll be lots of hideaways for 'little things' to happily hide and breed.
I'm keeping things as simple as possible for now as my husband isn't very well and the plan I believe will easily be achievable by me over the next winter months.
So here's my plan... I'm no Picasso, it's basic, but I do hope it's readable, it's a WIP! (The blue squares should be 1 sq metre - garden is roughly 9mx10m.)
Just to recap, this is the area.
Cambridgeshire/Norfolk border.
Cambridgeshire/Norfolk border.
Cambridgeshire/Norfolk border.
I'd agree with @Posy - far too many plants for the space. An average Buddleia davidii for example, would fill one of those corner areas by itself. Same with most Cornus [dogwoods]
It's not just the ultimate size that's important, it's also the effect each one has on neighbouring planting, re shade and competition for moisture and nutrients etc
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Maybe my 'suck it an see' mentality needs adjusting
Cambridgeshire/Norfolk border.