Fersiwn Gymraeg ar gael yma
As it gets colder and we see the autumn closing in, we may find it difficult farewelling with the warmth and sunshine of the summer that we got so accustomed to. But, let it not be forgotten that there are some things which become easier for us to do in the autumn - not just for ourselves, but also for our wildlife, as we look to help them through these upcoming colder months.
Leaf nature to look after nature One of the first things we notice when we go into the autumn months are the leaves changing colour and falling off trees. And if you’ve got a garden, it may at first be a temptation to remove the ever-increasing mass of leaves falling all over your lawn and putting them in your garden waste…. stop right there! These leaves can make a wonderful haven for hedgehogs, toads and hundreds of minibeasts. Make a leaf pile in the corner of your garden and watch in wonder as it comes to life, full of creatures big and small! Stop wasting water, butt! We all know that using less water in the garden helps reduce your bills and protects wetland wildlife in the wider countryside. But of course, many of us need to look after our plants and flowers, especially if sowing wildflowers in the autumn so that they can flourish and help our pollinators come spring time. That’s why fitting a water butt could be the answer to all of the above. You can get several different sizes to suit the size of your garden, but the standard butt can hold around 200 litres. Ponderful stuff This is one for the DIY experts among you. In autumn, it tends to get easier to dig holes, and if you’ve got the space, why not make a pond? At first you may notice some hoverflies and dragonflies checking it out, but within a year, it will be a theatre of frogs, toads and newts.
Ray Kennedy (rspb-images.com)
A rill-y good idea Fancy the digging part but perhaps find that a pond would be a bit of a stretch? Even digging a shallow ditch (or a ‘rill’ as we call them on our reserves) can create a home for various types of wildlife. Making this countryside-style feature in your garden will provide blackbirds and song thrushes will ample worms and insects to feed upon, and will provide a safe passage of way for hedgehogs and small reptiles. This ditch may even turn into a small pond in the wetter periods of the autumn and winter.
A stunning bed of red Not only are poppies one of our favourite wildflowers with their strikingly beautiful colour, but they are also a favourite among our pollinators. And now is the perfect time to sow the seeds, as the soil is still warm following the summer and the extra moisture in the autumn air can aid germination. Fast-growing annual plants grow from seed to a mass of flowers in just a few months. It is simple and the results can look wonderful. Find more great activities that will help your garden or balcony become more nature-friendly by visiting our nature on your doorstep webpage.