Tag Archives: wildlife garden

Galapagos in Your Back Garden:

Posted on August 25, 2010 | Leave a comment
Golden ringed Dragonfly

Golden ringed Dragonfly

In yesterday’s Independent Stanley Johnson (father of blonde bombshell Boris) wrote a fine feature about the danger of eco-tourism destroying this unique habitat. Instead of travelling to the furthest side of the world damaging the planet as you go, why not leave that to David Attenborough and the BBC’s wildlife photographers (and HD television) and explore the wildlife in your own back garden instead.  All you need is a good hand lens and the time to examine the flora and fauna in close-up.   You will be amazed what you find when you really start to look.  Birds in Your Garden and Collins Complete Guide – British Insects and The Wildflowers of Britain and Ireland will help with identification and you can learn more on the subject at www.wildlifegardener.co.uk and uksafari.com.

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Posted in Biodiversity

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Garden Grabbing

Posted on June 17, 2010 | Leave a comment

Oh the joy of waking up to hear that this dastardly practice is going to be consigned to history and that housing densities are going to be reduced too. Of course it is tempting to sell off a bit of garden, especially if there is a neglected bit at the end, but these are just the areas that sustain wildlife in our suburban and inner city gardens.  With any luck this will also promote the idea of garden-sharing. Read about garden sharing here.

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Posted in Stephanie's Blog

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National Birdbox Week

Posted on March 3, 2010 | Leave a comment

It may be National Birdbox Week, but the birds in my garden think they can find their own nesting places thank you. One of our robins has been very busy transporting nesting material into the ivy in the courtyard garden and a blackbird has found a similar spot high up on the front wall.  It reminds me that, despite its bad press, ivy is a wonderful plant for the wildlife. If you are looking for a nesting box check out our birdboxes or visit www.recyclingwood.org.uk – it’s a wonderful social project producing stylish and practical products – including birdboxes.

Birdbox disguised as security camera

Birdbox disguised as security camera

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Buddleja Buzz

Posted on February 26, 2010 | Leave a comment

buddleia-buzz.
Thompson & Morgan’s Buddleja ‘Buzz’™ was recently named the Best New Plant Variety. It is the first Buddleja that has been specifically bred to be a dwarf variety and is ideal for growing in patio pots and containers. Despite its compact nature, Buddleja ‘Buzz’ still boasts all the qualities it’s larger cousins are famous for, such as the huge sprays of flowers known for attracting butterflies and wildlife into the garden. The compact plants grow to just one metre high and will be smothered in flowers all summer long. Plants are available in three colours ivory, lavender and magenta.  There is usually an incentive to buying more than one plant with the buddleja buzz offer.

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Posted in Garden Offers

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Bye Bye Birdies

Posted on February 2, 2010 | Leave a comment

Like many gardens throughout the country, we found that the snow brought many unusual and welcome visitors.  Thrushes are fairly rare here now, but there were several hopping about along with redwings and fieldfares who were tussling with the resident blackbirds for the birdfood we provided.  It was lovely while it lasted.

A rare sight.

A rare sight.

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Posted in Stephanie's Blog

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