It’s been a little while since you last heard from our Aire Valley Wildlife Gardening Team. But don’t be fooled into thinking that we’ve been sat on our laurels, excuse the pun. We’ve been working hard behind the scenes preparing for the busy and productive gardening year ahead.
Our largest project at RSPB Fairburn Ings has been the re-modelling of the pond in the Wildlife Garden. A lot of thought has gone into the design, creating a space for wildlife to not only inhabit, but to also visit on its travels.
Our pond has three areas of different depths; the deepest area, around 60cm, provides a home for all manner of amphibians and alleviates a complete freeze, a ‘shelf’ just below the water level to aid small mammals to access and exit the water safely and finally a shallow, cobbled ‘beach’ area providing a bathing and drinking area for birds.
Wildlife benefits greatly from the introduction of water into your garden, no matter how large or small the space you have.
If you'd like to have a go at making your own pond, check out helpful resources here
We are currently working on a Wildlife Friendly Welcome Patch at the side of the Little Owl Café at RSPB St Aidan’s.
At the end of last year we covered the area in cardboard and topped it with compost. Helping to hold back the growth of unwanted grasses and weeds, as the cardboard breaks down, combined with the compost it will help enrich the soil.
We’ve also added a log pile and bug hotel which will provide a habitat for numerous invertebrates. The area will be planted and sown with a combination of pollen rich perennial and annual flowers; seasonal colour for staff and visitors to enjoy and a buffet for flying insects and butterflies.
We’re often asked, “What is a wildlife garden?”
Any garden can benefit wildlife; planting a variety of flowers and shrubs, adding water, some rotting material, possibly a bird box. Resisting the use of chemicals and peat. Making small changes really will make a difference and you can still have a lovely garden you enjoy spending time in.
Have a look at how you can make your garden more wildlife friendly here
Think of yourself as the manager of a 5 star hotel, offering food, drink and accommodation to the nature on your doorstep. for some activities everyone can take part in and help wildlife in your garden click here.
So if you see the members of the gardening team hard at work, don’t be shy, we’re more than happy to have a chat over the garden fence!
let us know what you're doing to make your garden more wildlife friendly on social media!
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