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I recently demolished my garage in order to extend the garden and within the last few days I have broken out the garage floor slab. The idea is to create flowerbeds around the perimeter and to lay turf adjacent to that. The broken out flooring was only a couple of inches thick and once I have broken it down even more I was intending to put a topsoil/compost mix on top to create the flowerbeds. I am assuming that the broken up flooring will assist with drainage and stop the soil from simply washing away when it rains? I have several bags of Homebase topsoil and was intending to mix them in with compost of some sort. Can anyone offer advice and tell me if this is a good idea? I intend to plant climbing roses and honeysuckle at the far end of the garden because I have installed trellis at high level. Going forward I will be planting runner beans and tomatoes on the more exposed wall and pyracantha and other Sparrow friendly plants elsewhere. I will post some photos when I get home, in order to give a better idea of the layout. Hope someone can offer some advice. Thanks.
Unicum arbustum haud alit duos erithacos
(One bush does not shelter two Robins)
Zenodotus (3rd Century B.C.)
These were actually taken yesterday morning but I didn't have time to upload them before going to work. The main sections of framework have had their sections of mesh added and this morning I started work on the top of the gate/side trellis area. It started raining before I had finished, so hopefully I will be able to finish that part tomorrow. It's all going well, but the Spadgers are getting rather impatient as they gather in the nearby holly tree and wait for me to go back indoors so that they can grab a few suet pellets. I occasionally throw a few mealies into the new garden area, but they don't last long. Mrs BR paid me a brief visit this morning as well.
Small birds, up to and including Starlings, will be able to gain entry to the SBS. No doubt the Ferals will find a way in once it is complete (which it isn't). I will also be constructing a small feeding station for Cyrilla, which will also be Feral proof and covered so that her food stays dry. She only visits once a day, so I will just need to fill it each morning. I will see what I can do as far as a feeding area for the Ferals is concerned but as their requirements are less specific than those of the smaller birds, they will always find food nearby.
Just before I started work on the SBS this morning, the Sprawk paid a visit to the garden. I'm pretty sure it didn't catch any of the Spadgers as they were quick to dive for cover. Some twenty minutes later, before the gang returned, I spotted this little lady still hiding in the foliage by the kitchen door. I threw her a few mealies and eventually she hopped down and ate them before flying up to the ceanothus. It just goes to show that even the smallest area of low cover is of use to the birds in times of danger.
Lovely additional photos MC and excellent progress again with your garden reconstruction and SBS area. As you say, its good to have somewhere safe for the smaller birds to give them a chance to eat without the larger birds honing in on them or the food. Once the shrubs and climbers start to flourish it will give the Sparrows and Robins somewhere extra to feel safe :) well done again on not just the amount or work you have carried out but for thinking up and designing the safe areas.
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Regards, Hazel
Thanks Hazy. I'm going to fence off the rest of the Chalet area too. I noticed cat paw prints under there this morning. I might fit some galvanised sections to the Chalet itself. GR and Mrs BR will still be able to fly in and out, but there will be no sneak attacks.
You may need to install an automatic sprinkler system to douse the cat lol
Since I mentioned Cyrilla, here she is, nibbling on some sunflower hearts that I left on the paving stones for her while I was working on the SBS.
Arrrrghhh, you need a warning for me if you are going to post Cyrils or Cyrillas lol Talking of posting - how many more do you want ???
Let me think... Erm... None!
One Cyrilla is quite enough in a small suburban garden. She's fairly well behaved most of the time and your lot would be a bad influence. I've seen what they get up to!
lol, let me know if you change your mind as the suitcase for London is getting some thought at the moment and I can leave out the laptop computer !
Here's how things looked at about midday today. The SBS (to the left) is taking shape gradually. I will need to add some netting to the area above the Chalet because a cat has been making itself comfortable at the back and the escape route is up and over the top. If I remove that means of escape and cover the front, hopefully it won't get in. Once the various roses start to grow in the Spring, they will also serve to discourage any visiting felines. I've also figured out where to put the Ferals feeding tray. No clues.
Gate & Trellis section finally completed this morning (Thursday), with a few additional sections of 2x1
The top right is a bit 'Heath Robinson' but it should work. If anyone's wondering why the trellis doesn't all have the same profile, it's because some of it is 'home made' from various bits of timber.
I've modified this hanging feeder for the benefit of Cyrilla, the female squirrel who visits the garden each day. I still need to add some cover to the front, but she can enter through the right side of the 'house'. Small birds could get on if they wanted, but as this will just contain peanuts, my hope is that they will ignore it. The main point of the project is to create something 'Feral Proof' because any loose food or items placed on a bird table will be gobbled up by the Ferals within minutes! Cyrilla tends to visit first thing in the morning, so I will only need to fill this each evening.
Cyrilla's little feeding house is just outside the SBS. Still work to be done, as I said.
Looks great :) what alot of work you have put in, i'm sure Cyrilla will be delighted