Page 18 - Jigsaw April 2020

Around the area ...............................................................................
Wildlife needs your help – as the Wildlife Trust explains...
How to help your local wildlife
Start with your own patch
Gardens are now one of the most abundant and important habitats in the UK, covering the same area as the Norfolk Broads, Exmoor, Dartmoor and the Lake District combined! As such, making your garden wildlife friendly can make a huge difference.
Be less tidy
Wildlife often thrives in neglected corners. Even small patches of stinging nettles and brambles can provide vital habitats for wildlife. Nettles are the main food plant for lots of insect larvae, including butterflies and ladybirds, whilst brambles are a fantastic all-rounder, providing a nectar source for insects, nesting sites for birds in spring and valuable blackberries in the autumn.
Piles of logs and leaves can be a brilliant place for hedgehogs and amphibians to shelter and, as they rot down, will encourage more invertebrates to move in, including beetles and worms. Mowing your lawn less often to allow it to grow longer can also be a big help.
Flower power
Pollinators, such as bees and hoverflies, are a vital part of most ecosystems and planting a variety of flowering plants is the best way to encourage them. Go for native species
Piles of leaves are a perfect habitat for hedgehogs.
where possible and try to include a variety of shapes and colours as different species will be attracted to different flowers. (Avoid double flowers, which are difficult for insects to extract nectar from). Try to ensure there’s something flowering in your garden for most of the year so that early pollinators emerging from hibernation can find something to eat (this is particularly important now as our seasons are becoming less predictable). Some of the best plants for pollinators include; lavender, buddleia, cosmos, chives, honeysuckle, aubretia, valerian, crocus and primrose.
Flowering fruit trees, such as cherry and apple, can also be a good source of nectar, and have the added benefit of providing tasty fruit for your kitchen.
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