Flatford Wildlife Garden welcomes some rare visitors

I'm delighted to hand the reins of this week's blog to Mark Nowers from the RSPB's dedicated wildlife garden at Flatford Mill, for an update of how their season is going and news of an event you might like to try:

Okay, tail-end of Hurricane Bertha aside, the weather has been very kind to us this year. So much so that, at the Flatford Wildlife Garden, nature's calendar has been a good two weeks ahead. A marked difference to last year, when we didn't have a warm spell until early June! Not that we mind, because we have been treated to one or two surprise visitors.

The garden lies at the west end of the Stour Estuary in the heart of Constable Country on the Suffolk/Essex border. About six miles to the east lies Stour Wood and a similar distance to the north is Wolves Wood. Both RSPB reserves are excellent spots to see some very special woodland butterflies - White Admirals and Silver-washed Fritillaries from late-June through to August. One of our volunteers, Dick Rabjohn, has been fortunate enough to see both of these in the garden this summer, the first time either species has been seen. This tells me that the garden is performing its role as a stepping stone for nature. Ideally, we want to link those stones!

Above is Flatford's White Admiral, with its distinctive flash of white, and below their male Silver-washed Fritillary (you can see the 'silver wash' in the second photo on the lower underwing).

Our ethos at the garden is to inspire and inform people about simple actions that can take in their own garden to help nature thrive in order to provide that all important home. On top of the 22 species of butterflies already seen in the garden, these rare visitors help to demonstrate that things are working. They were taking advantage of the abundant nectar sources that insects can find in the garden from late-winter to the last throes of autumn. This is testament to the hard work of our head gardener, Shirley, and her team of Thursday volunteers who keep the garden looking great and working for nature.

The garden is open every day up until the 2 November from 10.30 to 4.30 for people to enjoy. However, Shirley is running a bespoke one-day workshop on Sunday 21 September at the garden if you would like the benefit of some group tuition. Shirley is a qualified horticulturalist and garden designer, now forging a career in conservation too. Topics will include:

• Choosing plants that will provide natural food for birds and other garden wildlife
• Helping wildlife survive the winter by providing good habitat and cover
• How to help bees and butterflies in your garden: the right flowers, breeding sites, hibernation
• Propagate some plants to take home, and build a bird- bug- or bat box, whichever you prefer!

The course runs from 10am to 4pm and costs £45 with a £10 discount for RSPB members. Worth every penny! If you would like any more information please call Shirley on 07803 116592.