Ivy (Hedera helix) is one of those plants that can look rather scruffy and unruly in our gardens, particularly at this time of year. But its value to our garden wildlife cannot be overestimated, so it's really important to resist the urge to cut it all back for a good tidy up! Over recent weeks, flowering ivy has been providing a vital source of pollen and nectar for pollinators. Just as most flowering plants are dying off in late summer, ivy starts to produce yellow/green, strong-smelling blooms, so pollinators that are still on the wing use it to forage. Late-flying butterflies, such as red admirals and commas can be found nectaring on the flowers on sunny days when it is warm enough for them to fly. Honeybees and ivy mining bees (a recent arrival in the UK) also rely on its nectar and pollen.
During November, these flowers develop into black berries, which provide a very important food source to garden birds, such a blackbirds, throughout the winter months, when insects are hard to find. During the winter ivy also provides a brilliant shelter and hiding place for birds (such as robins) and small mammals, both from bad weather and from predators. Ivy also provides roosting sites for bats and birds, and a home for hibernating insects. As an evergreen, it will provide brilliant early-season nesting opportunities for robins, dunnocks, blackbirds and wrens.
Wood pigeon on ivy (Chris Gomersall rspb-images.com)
Finally, in the summer, ivy is a vital food for the caterpillars of the holly blue butterfly. This butterfly produces two generations per year. The larvae feed predominantly on the flower buds, berries and terminal leaves of holly in the spring generation, and ivy in the summer generation.
So, as a year-round friend to garden wildlife, ivy really is hard to beat! If you want to attract more wildlife to your garden, whether that be birds, mammals or insects, flowering ivy is a great plant to grow. You might already have some in your garden, and if you do, let it spread a bit more. You'll enjoy seeing a wide range of wildlife making the most of its food and shelter throughout the year.
If you haven't been feeding your garden birds year-round, this is a great time to get out the bird feeders and fill them up. Don't forget to give them a good clean before putting them back out in your garden, as otherwise your good intentions can in fact have a detrimental effect on wildlife, spreading disease. Goldfinches for example have declined by 63% since 1993, due in no small part to the disease trichomonosis, which is mostly spread through contaminated food and drinking water. But follow these few simple steps and you'll be able to provide a safe and highly valued feeding stop for your local birds. Key to success is providing a range of different foods on a regular basis in order to attract a variety of species. By providing a reliable food source through the next couple of months, you should be able to encourage some regular visitors in time for the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch, coming soon in January 2023!
Flatford Wildlife Garden is now closed for the winter months, apart from a few special dates. The first of these is the Flatford Christmas Weekend 26 & 27 November, when we will be open 10.30am – 3.30pm.