We urge everyone who has planted trees in the last five years to revisit them and give them some vital aftercare. Trees are great at locking up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere – using it to build their limbs and leaves. As they grow, more carbon is stored away, so trees are considered a potential […]
Quick practical conservation tips
A collection of articles designed to help you get started with practical conservation in no time at all.
Birds in your garden
If you follow some basic rules in your garden, you’ll make it more attractive for a wide variety of bird species. If you provide shelter, food and water you will encourage them to visit your garden and even become residents. You will soon enjoy watching birds close to your home. Planting for birds Food for […]
Native spring-flowering bulbs
Spring is a very important season for wildlife gardening. Early spring flowers are vital for early insects and the birds that feed on them. Native wildflower bulbs tend to flower in the spring and there is a wide range of wonderful native spring-flowering bulbs that you can use in your garden and beyond. These include […]
Planning a wildlife hedge
Before planting a wildlife hedge, consider its purpose. If the hedge is intended to be stock-proof, it needs to comprise at least 75% thorny plants. Hawthorn, with the addition of blackthorn or holly, often provides the mainstay of stock-proof hedges. Plants which provide berries or seeds for birds are desirable. Planting hedgerow trees, such as […]
An introduction to wildlife gardening
Wildlife gardening is for everyone You do not need any particular level of expertise to start a wildlife garden. There are only a few rights and wrongs that you will learn as you go along. You do not need much space. Even a window-box or a few pots is enough. A wildlife garden does not […]
Native tree heights
Ever wanted to know how tall the tree you’re planting might eventually grow? Here’s a list for you. Most trees will only attain the maximum height in ideal conditions – this is unlikely in most cases. Click on the common name for more information about each tree. Each link opens in another website. Species Latin […]
Hedgerow cutting
A recent report by ecologists from the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology at Monk’s Wood in Cambridgeshire has suggested that by cutting hedgerows less frequently, farmers can save money and protect our wildlife. During the autumn each year, thousands of kilometres of hedgerow is cut using tractors with a ‘flail’ attachment. Before machinery like this […]
Creating and managing a patch of wet grassland
Our tendency to drain large areas of land for agriculture and housing means we have lost many of our natural wetlands. This has contributed to erosion, loss of habitat and flooding. When creating a garden that attracts wildlife, you need a diversity of habitats. An area of wet grassland can help transform your garden into […]
Native trees in your garden
Longing for a break from bustling city life? Want to relax in the shade and take a deep breath of clean air while listening to lovely birdsong, but don’t have enough time for a trip to a woodland? Why not escape to a breathing space in your own garden? An essential part of creating any […]
Make your garden a home for hedgehogs
The number of hedgehogs living in rural areas has plummeted by more than half since the year 2000. This comes from a recent report released by the People’s Trust for Endangered Species and the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, based on data from surveys. There are an estimated one million hedgehogs in Britain. That represents a […]
Creating a Wildlife Pond
The world’s frog, toad, salamander and newt populations are disappearing at an alarming rate. The reason for this being mainly that their natural habitats – ponds and bogs – are also disappearing. However, you can make a difference! In the past, every village had a pond. Farmers who had no rivers nearby dug ditches joining […]