Going potty

Gardening for wildlife in pots is a fascinating challenge, and hugely rewarding. And I can say that from first-hand experience - at the RSPB South East office where I'm based, we have a roof terrace (well, it's more of a roof pit) where the only way to grow plants is in pots.

Some of you will be in the same position, having no open ground in which to plant things. For the rest of you, I bet you have patios and decking where container planting is the only option to inject a bit of life.

I think great things can be achieved for wildlife using pots, so here are my top tips - and some photos of some inspiring pot-planting I've seen over the years.

• The brilliant news is that almost anything can be grown in pots, including trees. Yes, some will need that bit of extra loving care, but the limit is just your imagination.

• Yes, you need to be ready for the challenges. In particular, you need to be prepared to water regularly. And in warm weather than means very regularly. Small pots in particular dry out so quickly, so I like to be generous with my pot sizes. A mulch of gravel on top can really help.

• Equally most plants won't thank you if they get waterlogged in the winter, so you do need good drainage in the bottom of the pots.

• Plants can also get very cold in pots in winter, because their roots are barely millimetres away from the cold air. Some may need to be taken into greenhouses or cold frames, or wrapped in bubblewrap.

• Plants can of course get pot bound, so you will need to be ready to do some re-potting.

• Even those that don't need re-potting will probably welcome some fresh compost or additional feed.

• And you'll probably need good neighbours to help out if you like taking a summer holiday, just to look after your precious charges.

The results can be simply wonderful - visually and for wildlife.

I'm not claiming this first photo is the best, but this was my 'cornfield annuals in a pot', with gorgeous Red Flax leading the way. However, it was the Fairy Toadflax beneath them that were the real winners with solitary bees.

The wonderfully healthy young tree at the back here is a friend's Elm tree she is growing ready for White-letter Hairstreak butterflies.

This immaculate selection at Christopher Lloyd's garden at Great Dixter was not planted specifically for wildlife, but includes plants such as Cornflowers, great for bees - and it shows just how good pot planting can look.

But I've saved this until last because this was just a private garden in the back street of a little mountain village in boiling Lesvos. Everything you can see was growing in a pot, and for me was just so inspiring to see someone bring life where there was nothing but whitewash, brick and cobble beneath.

Have you got any experiences of planting in pots you'd like to share? We'd love to hear.