Yes, I know, yet another blog. But if you like doing things in your garden to help wildlife, I think – I hope – you’re going to like this one.Seems only right that we start with some introductions, so Hi, I’m Adrian, nice to meet you! And here’s what to expect from this blog:Mondays: You’ll get something from me. I am an RSPB member of staff, but for this blog I’m a volunteer because outside of work I’m potty about gardening for wildlife. For the past year, I’ve been writing the new RSPB guide to Gardening for Wildlife, and the ten years before that were spent researching it! (That might seem like a shameless plug, but as it’s not out until next May I hope you will excuse me mentioning it).What I’m really interested in is how to make an attractive ‘conventional’ garden that is also good for wildlife. I’m a real sucker for a good old splash of colour, so you can expect quite a lot about garden flowers from me and what they’re good for. And you're going to get lots of photos.Wednesdays: Over to my colleague, John Day, who works on the Homes for Wildlife project at The Lodge, which I hope you’ve all signed up for. ‘Signed up’ doesn’t mean you need to start getting your credit cards out! It’s the RSPB’s free internet wildlife gardening advisory service.And Fridays: I’ll be bringing you some stories from RSPB gardens on our nature reserves around the country, and we’ll hear what some of the RSPB’s keen gardeners have been up to.I hope you going to like it. And I really hope you will take part, commenting and sharing ideas. I know there is bags of expertise out there, and I’m raring to tap into it.
Hi John and Adrian
Have managed to get my wood (finally) alas not the stumps I was hoping. Anyway after visiting our local Wildlife Trust Reserve yesterday, I did actually buy some wood from them, albeit it is small wood blocks - foot long by 8in thick - what is the best way to set them in the garden- are these too small to use plus will drilling holes still be required? I want to set them safely so that I don't inadvertently concuss any poor unsuspecting frog or hedgehog that might forage amongst them. Many thanks
Brill. I'll try that too. Thanks
Hi Aberdeenshire Quine
Good on you getting stuck in! While we're on the subject of sedums, it's worthwhile knowing that there is an Iceplant called Sedum 'Ruby Glow' which only grows to 25cm tall and might be ok for your rockery if you are growing more than just ground-hugging rockery plants. Or you might like to venture into the even smaller members of the genus, the stonecrops, such as Sedum kamtschaticum. Both are great for bees - Honeybees and bumblebees. And hopefully we can provide you with some more inspiration in weeks to come.
Hi Adrian and John
Thanks for your advice and the links - very helpful - While the weather is still good, I am going to try very hard to get started. Just got to convince my OH he has worked to do!!!.
Hi Kezmo - Do it!! Dead and decaying wood is one of the most important features you can have in a garden. Native hardwoods are best for decaying wood, but any dead wood is better than none.
For more ideas, check these links out:
www.rspb.org.uk/.../deadwood.asp
www.rspb.org.uk/.../beetlebucket.asp
If there are any long poles available from 100mm diameter up wards (so long as they can be easily manhandled) try burying some vertically into the soil like organ pipes. Make them into an interesting shape and plant up around the base of it.
You could also put a few logs at the base of them and then back fill it all with soil and have some logs laying on top and plant around them. The airspaces between the buried logs will give opportunities for frogs and toads to bury themselves in.
Many people that have trees cut down also have the stumps ground out. If its not too late, try and convince the people you are getting the wood from to at least keep the stumps as they are valuable to a lot of important insects, some of which like the stag beetle, specifically need tree stumps.
Please let us know how you get on with creating your deadwood features - some pictures and a post on the forums telling people what you done would be great.