| As winter approaches and the days grow shorter we | | | | and berries during the cold months. |
| are likely to spend much less time winter gardening - | | | | Additionally, stone walls, log heaps and untidy |
| there aren't so many tasks to be done, and staying | | | | coorners provide ideal homes in our winter garden s |
| warm and cosy indoors seems a much more | | | | for all kinds of wild animals, from field mice to frogs, |
| attractive prospect. Similarly, the wildlife in a winter | | | | toads and hedgehogs. |
| garden is searching out food and shelter to help | | | | There are also ways we can actively encourage |
| survive the winter, and there's a lot we can do to | | | | wildlife in the garden, not only into the winter garden, |
| help them in their quest for survival. | | | | but throughout the year. These days the domestic |
| As we want to become less active in the winter | | | | garden is an invaluable habitat and if we manage it |
| garden, our neglect helps to offer wildlife in the | | | | well we will be rewarded with a wide variety of |
| garden many desirable winter residences. There was | | | | wildlife in the garden that will act as natural predators |
| once a time when no respectable gardener could | | | | on our less welcome garden pests. |
| retire indoors for the winter unless the herbaceous | | | | Feeding the birds is a top priority for pest control, |
| borders had been cleared, all the fallen leaves | | | | but once you start, it is important to be reliable and |
| removed and the vegetable patch reduced to bare | | | | continue as birds will waste energy visiting your |
| soil. | | | | winter garden bird feeder or table to no avail if no |
| These days we realise that both aesthetically and | | | | food is provided. In frosty weather they will also |
| environmentally, the winter garden is far more | | | | need water. This is a good time of year to fix new |
| interesting and diverse if some plants are left | | | | nesting boxes in place so the birds will have plenty of |
| untrimmed until the spring. Tufts of ornamental | | | | time to check them out before the spring comes. |
| grasses have a haunting beauty, especially when | | | | Insects also need places to hide in the winter garden |
| back lit by the low winter sun, but they are also a | | | | and while many will take up residence in existing |
| valuable habitat for hibernating ladybugs. | | | | nooks and crannies, it's a good idea to provide some |
| Areas of leaf litter provide homes for many beneficial | | | | additional nesting places. These can be home made |
| insect species and will protect delicate plants that | | | | from simple materials such as a handful of straw or |
| may otherwise be killed by the cold weather and | | | | short lengths of cane in a flower pot, but you can |
| frosty nights. The stark angular outlines of berried | | | | also buy commercial versions. |
| shrubs and the seed heads of annual and perennial | | | | So, why not spend some time making your winter |
| plants give a visual structure to the winter garden, | | | | garden welcoming and comfortable for your wildlife in |
| and many will last long into the season, providing | | | | winter? That way both you and they will be rested |
| important food for birds and other wildlife in the | | | | and ready for the lengthening days next spring. |
| garden who will work their way through all the seeds | | | | |