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Gardening with Wildlife Gardening for Wildlife We only have to look at what has happened to our native wildlife to realise how important it is for us to garden with wildlife in mind. We have the unique opportunity at Bowbrook Allotments of having green spaces to develop for wildlife but our activities on our own individual plots have an impact too. Many allotment sites throughout the country are now changing the way produce is grown with much more emphasis on a partnership with wildlife. For established sites this is a more difficult proposition than for us at BAC, for they have to undo years of gardening with chemicals and an established ethos where wildlife is not high on the agenda. It is terrible to think that 97% of our meadows have been ploughed up and most of that land is now under intensive arable culture or grassland saturated by nitrogenous fertilisers. Applications of these fertilisers give such a boost to the growth of rye grass that it crowds out all else. Add to that the massive increase in the application of pesticides and herbicides since WW2 and we can see the seriousness of the problem. Our native wildlife has not stood a chance. It has been squeezed out by loss of habitat and where it has survived it has been sprayed with poisons. Alongside the disappearance of our native flora came the collapse of the populations of invertebrates, farmland birds and mammals. With the decline in our populations of voles, mice, shrews etc our birds of prey have suffered, particularly our owl species. We know that our bees are in serious trouble with numbers plummeting at an alarming rate. It has also become very obvious in recent years that the number of butterflies that grace our gardens and countryside has dropped drastically. Perhaps the most worrying evidence of the seriousnes s of our disappearan ce of our wildlife came about when the populations of our gardens' commonest birds, the House Sparrow and the Starling began to decline. Our gardens became noticeably quieter! But it is not an irreversable process. We can help put things right by carefully thinking about how we garden. There are many t hings we can do to begin to reverse some of t hese population declines. But it is not a one-way system for we, the allotmenteers, can benefit as much as wildlife does. All this can be done without jeopardising our main aim in working an allotment – the production of fruit and veg. By gardening with wildlife in mind we get their support in return in our fight against
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Gardening with Wildlife Gardening for Wildlife

May 29, 2018

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pests. Having pollinating insects and bees around will increase crop yields and of course gardeningto the sights and sounds of birds, butterflies and insects enhances the gardening experience.

To achieve all this we can move towards an organic gardening ethos and endeavour to attractwildlife.

1. Move towards organic gardening methods,*look after your soil,*stop the use of chemical pesticides and herbicides or at the least reduce them to anabsolute minimum,

*use natural pest control,*practise companion planting,*use green manures,*feed plants with natural fertilisers.

2.Attract wildlife onto your plot and help it survive,*grow a patch of wildflowers amongst our veg.*put up nestboxes for birds and bats*feed the birds*provide homes and shelter for wildlife

Looking After the SoilPerhaps the first and most important thing for the gardener to consider is to feed and look after thesoil. The soil on our plots should be full of life. One of the reasons for gardening is to get back intouch with the soil, something that has been lost in recent generations. We need to regain contactwith real food and where it comes from. Soil should be full of life.

Plants that are grown in soil rich in organic matter will be stronger than those fed with chemicalfeed, and are thus better able to withstand pest and disease attacks. The best organic feed of all is

our own home-made compost closely followed by well-rotted manure, and these both feed the soiland improve its texture so allowing plants to absorb the nutrients. In addition we can feed the plantswith foliar organic feeds made from comfrey or seaweed based commercial feed.

Leaves of comfrey and nettles steeped in water makes an effective natural plant food.

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The leaves of comfrey are good compost accelerators and make plantfood and the bonus flowersattract bees aplenty.

By improving the soil we increase the activity and population of invertebrates and micro-organismsliving in it. These improve soil texture, feed on decomposed plant and animal materials and makethem available to plants as food. The real hero of the soil is the worm! His constant burrowingaerates the soil and he takes down from the surface leaves and other organic matter. It is the wormwho takes our compost and manure that we apply to the soil surface and mixes it in with the soil.There are said to be over a million worms under each acre of land so our site must be home toaround 4 million. That is a big team of workers!

Stopping the use of artificial pesticides, fertilisers and herbicidesWhat we do when we feed plants with artificial fertilisers is encourage rapid soft growth whichpests absolutely love. Pests such as aphids will actually be attracted to your plot, where they willfeed voraciously on this new lush green growth.

If chemical pesticide sprays are used they are indiscriminate so kill beneficial insects in addition tothe pests. Pests reproduce more rapidly than their predators so get a stronger hold on the plot. Thuspesticides often in the long term increase the population of the insect you are aiming to rid yourplants of. We are simply upsetting the balance of nature.

Of course in addition to this we end up eating the residues of the chemicals in our food.

Natural Pest ControlThe alternative way of controlling pests is to aim to get a healthy balance of prey and predator. Sofor each pest we must encourage a predator. We must create suitable habitats for predators and thiswe can achieve by providing homes and shelters, and planting flowers to attract the predators. (seelater sections and appendices)

To help control aphids for example we need to attract from the insect world, lacewings, ladybirdsand hoverflies and from the bird world, members of the tit and finch families.

Companion Planting and Green ManuresCompanion planting is a fascinating subject which works when we use it but until recently no-onereally knew why. Recent scientific research has confirmed that it works and has shown why.Basically some plants when grown alongside others help them grow healthily, help deter pests and

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can even put weeds off growing on your patch.

•  French Marigolds grown alongside tomato plants deter whitefly.•  Chives and onions grown alongside carrots deter carrotfly.•  Nasturtiums grown alongside brassicas attract pests to their leaves and away from the brassicas.

(See also Appendix 4)

Green manures are crops grown to be incorporated into the soil to add nutrients. They are plantsthat search deep into the soil and take up nutrients and store them in their leaves, stems and roots.We need to dig these in before they flower when they are still succulent. As they break down theyrelease the nutrients back into the soil ready for the next productive crop to use. Some greenmanures also attract beneficial insects/predators. Phacelia and poached egg plant both act as greenmanures, suppress weed growth and attract beneficial insects.

Legumes such as lupins and winter tares fix nitrogen in nodules on their roots and the subsequentcrop can take advantage of this nitrogen. Green manures also protect the soil from weed growth andprevent some leaching of nutrients from the soil in heavy winter rain.(See Appendix 5)

Encouraging Wildlife and Helping it SurviveTo encourage wildlife onto our plots we need to provide homes, shelters and nest sites and to ensurethey survive we need to provide food.

Growing WildflowersWe do not want allotments to be become overgrown or untidy so we need to find ways that benefitwildlife and look attractive. It is a fallacy that to attract wildlife you just let your garden go wild anduntidy! Wildlife friendly gardens can be as attractive as any others and have the added benefit of thecolours, scents and movement that our natural history brings.

The first thing to do is plant a patch of wildflowers or herbs on the plot. The best flowers to attractinsects, bees and butterflies are simple flowers, such as daisies rather than complex double flowers.(see appendix 1 and 2) Some of the crops themselves attract wildlife too, this is especially true of 

fruit. The flowers of apples, pears, blackberries and raspberries that are attractive for us to look at,also attract bees, hoverflies and lacewings which are necessary for good development of fruit andpest control. Once bees and butterflies visit these flowers they help pollinate them too. Multi-

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tasking at its best!

There are many non-native garden plants that we can use to attract wildlife equally well. Somenaturalists would disagree and insist on native plants but thinking is moving towards combiningnative and non-native plants in order to have maximum effect. We only need to see how the flowersof buddleia act as a magnet for butterflies, bees and hoverflies. (Although buddleia has establisheditself in the UK it is a native of China.) Earlier in the year marjorams attract the same wildlife andlater in the year that role is taken by sedum (ice plant) and eupatorium.

Honeybees on the flowers of sedum.

We have to consider supporting bees and insects throughout the year. Crocus are an important foodsource early in the year especially for creatures emerging from hibernation. Ivy flowers perform a

similar role in late autumn and the ivy plant additionally bears berries enjoyed by blackbirds andthrushes. Ivy climbing up our sheds is vital as a shelter for wrens and other small birds.

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On our plots we have trouble with the caterpillars of the Cabbage White Butterflies and the onlyway to protect them is to use netting with small mesh. Europe boasts about 250 species of butterflyand only the Cabbage Whites attack our brassicas. It is untrue that all butterflies are harmful. MostBritish butterflies are in danger following huge decreases in their populations following habitat loss.For example in Lincolnshire the latest butterfly population survey showed that 12 species are nowextinct there. As gardeners we can help them to find refuge and thus help conserve these beautiful

and entertaining creatures. Alongside bees, butterflies are some of the best pollinators so rather thandamage our crops they can increase the yield.

Climbing plants on the garden shed provide birds with a place to roost, nest or shelter. Honeysucklewill have berries late in the year and the bonus of scented flowers in the warmer months for thegardener to enjoy while resting with a well-earned cup of tea. A climber also provides a good sitefor a nestbox.

When a crop has been harvested it is useful to leave a plant or two to go to flower and then to seed.You will be amazed at how attractive the flowers and seedheads are and they will attract hoverfliesand bees. Some of the most attractive are parsnip, garlic, fennel and carrot. At the seedhead stagegoldfinches will be grateful for the seeds. The gardener will be delighted by the arrival of thebrightly coloured goldfinch. As with much in wildlife gardening it is a two-way process. It is fun toexperiment and leave odd plants of different crops to flower and seed each year – the results can besurprisingly beautiful.

The flowers of Fennel like exploding uellow fireworks.

Boxes for birds and batsProviding birdboxes and insect shelters are easy ways of ensuring wildlife considers your plot ashome. An open-fronted box for robins and a closed front box with a small hole for members of thetit family could be accommodated on your plot attached to the shed or to a pole. These birds planthe timing of their broods to ensure that there is food for their young. When young hatch theirparents will feed them on pests that feed on your crops. So many birds, even seedeaters, feed theiryoung on insects. Great entertainment for us to watch and good for our crops too! Dimensions andconstruction methods can be found on the RSPB and the BTO websites as well as in several books.

(see appendix 6)

Birds need us to help them survive by providing food, shelter and nesting sites. They will enjoy the

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variety of habitats our site and individual plots can provide.

At night bats take on the mantle of top insect predator and we can provide bat boxes for them toshelter in. Bats are finding it harder and harder to find suitable sites for roosting and winterhibernation. It can take up to three years for any bats to start to use new boxes so we have to bepatient.

Homes and shelters for insects and invertebratesShelters are variously known as "insect hotels", "insect stacks" and "bug homes". They can be madein so many different ways from a simple tube filled with canes to an "art installation" of bricks,

pallets, and wooden blocks filled with twigs, leaves, cones, straw, canes etc. Examples of these willbe placed around the site and several are making an appearance on individual allotments. Basicallywe are providing the nooks, cracks and crannies that bugs call home.

There are about 1 500 mini-beasts which inhabit our plots and all will take advantage of a wildlife

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stack. I have known of frogs also living in such a stack.

The "designer" minibeast stack at Tatton Park Show 2009.

In contrast to the insect stack is a block of wood with holes of various diameters drilled into or a tinstuffed tightly with twigs or canes. If you have few d-i-y skills or little or no time, a variety of insect homes can be bought from garden centres, wildbird seed catalogues and from the RSPB.

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 The logpileA quick and easy way of attracting beneficial insects is to build a logpile perhaps alongside yourshed or compost heap. This will attract beetles and centipedes which are voracious slug-eaters.Fungi and mosses will grow on the logs as they rot. Our rarest beetle and perhaps the most dramaticis the Stags Horn Beetle and they can be attracted to logpiles.

The Garden ShedThe shed is not just a place to drink our tea and store our tools, it can provide opportunities toattract wildlife. We must make sure that there is somewhere to sit next to our shed where we cantake time to appreciate our wildlife whilst enjoying our tea. We may be rewarded by having ourown robin to share our biscuits.

Your shed should boast a water butt to collect rainwater from the roof, climbing plants for shelter,nest boxes and insect homes attached to its sides. The ultimate shed should also been topped off with a green roof planted with various varieties of sedum and small grasses such as fescues.

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Many butterflies hibernate during our winter and sheds are often their chosen venue. Badly fittingdoors are often taken advantage of as entry points but it is possible to cut narrow slits in the sidesnear the roof to give butterlies access.

Never be afraid to call for help with your pest control problems.

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Appendix 1

Gardening for butterflies

Plants to attract butterflies achilleaastersbuddleiaphlox

coreopsisechinaceaheleniumnepetaoriganumverbena bonariensishebeeupatorium

Nectar Food Plants oxeye daisiescornflowersthyme

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honestyscabiousthriftpetuniapurple loosestrifesweet rocket

aubretia

Caterpillar Food Plants gooseberriesgrassescloverhopsbirds foot trefoilmallowangelica

Appendix 2

Herbaceous and annual plants to attract bees

achilleaastersfennelechinaceaechinopsheleniummonarda

nepetaoriganumsidalceaveronicastrumliatriscoreopsisdahliaseupatoriumsalviainulaligularia

primrosesred campionmint

Shrubs to attract beesbuddleiacotoneasterlavenderlavateraberberischoisya

lonicerapotentillapyracantha

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 Crop (Veg) Companion plantBrassicas sage, dill, borage, thyme, nasturtiumcucumber chives, sage, dilltomato tagetes, nasturtium, basilpotato tagetes, summer savoury

marrow, squash etc. borage, fennel, nasturtiumcapsicum basilcarrot sage, dill, alliums, parsley, chiveslettuce alliumsbeets alliumsfrench beans boragerunner beans sweetpeas, boragebroad beans summer savoury, boragesweetcorn sunflowerscelery/celeriac alliumsparsnip radish

Crop (Fruit)currants/gooseberries limnanthesapples tansy, alliums, nasturtiumstrawberries borage, alliums, limnanthesraspberries tansy, garlic, tagetes.

Appendix 5

Green Manures sowing time max time in groundalfafa May-Aug 14 weeks legumefield beans Oct-Nov 20 weeks legumechicory Apr-Aug 16 weeks deep rootingcrimson clover Apr-June 26 weeks legumewhite clover May 26 weeks legumelupins Apr-May 12/14 weeks good on light soilmustard June 8-10 weeks clears wirewormwinter tares Aug-Sept 20 weeks legume

(This list is far from complete – refer to any good book on organic gardening fro a comprehensivelist)

Appendix 6 Information Sources

Books

"How to Create a Wildlife Garden" – Christine and Michael Lavelle

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 "Bringing a Garden to Life" – Jenny Steel

"Butterfly Gardening" – Jenny Steel

"How to Make a Wildlife Garden" – Chris Baines

"No Nettles Required" – Ken Thompson

"The Natural Gardener" – Val Bourne

Websites

BBC Breathing Places – www.bbc.co.uk/breathingplaces 

Garden Organic – www.gardenorganic.org.uk  

RSPB – www.rspb.org.uk/hfw 

The Wildlife Trusts – www.wildlifetrusts.org.uk  

Shropshire Wildlife Trust – www.shropshirewildlifetrust.org.uk  

Shropshire Organic Gardeners – www.shropshireorganicgardeners.org.uk  

Bug Life – www.buglife.org.uk  

Suppliers of nest boxes, wildlife feed etc.

Shropshire Wildlife Trust, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury

Wiggly Wigglers - Tel. 01981 500391 - E-mail www.wigglywigglers.co.uk  

CJ Wildbird Foods Ltd. - Tel. 01743 709545 - E-mail www.birdfood.co.uk  

Vine House Farm – Tel. 01775 630208 - E-mail www.vinehousefarm.co.uk  

Garden Bird Supplies - Tel. 0844 9948989 - E-mail www.gardenbird.co.uk  

Charlies Stores Harlescott, Shrewsbury

Garden Centres Grosvenor Garden Centre near ChesterPercy Throwers ShrewsburyDobies ShrewsburyWyevale Telford