With the winter months upon us, you are sure to be spending more and more time indoors. Darker days and less daylight make the comfort and heat of your home seem even more appealing. While you may not be considering the state of your garden now, it is certainly something that will require your focus in the warmer spring months that will soon be upon us; especially after spending even more time indoors than usual! Most homeowners want their gardens to look and feel a certain way and have ideas in their minds about aesthetics and layouts.
However, other factors must also be considered when doing up your gardens; how can you protect the wildlife and their habitats that reside there? You may not realize from not seeing them, but there are sure to be lots of little creatures in your garden, and the last thing that you want is to deprive them of somewhere comfortable and safe to rest. Detailed below are some ways that you can make your garden wildlife-friendly this spring. Read on for more!
Birds in Your Garden
Birds provide more to your garden and biodiversity than most people realize. An essential part of your garden and the maintenance of biodiversity, when you care for the birds who visit your garden, they will, in turn, care for you and your garden. Putting birdhouses throughout your garden and outdoor spaces will give the birds somewhere safe to rest and lay eggs, but it is paramount that you put them out of reach of any predators, including your beloved pet cat!
While you must ensure the birds have somewhere safe to rest, it is also essential that they have a food source nearby too. Frosty mornings lead to difficulty when birds hunt for little critters to take back to their brood. By providing a bird feeder – which is in suitable cover from predators – you are actively contributing to the biodiversity in your garden. There are numerous bird feed companies on the market providing all your garden bird supplies, including Little Peckers Bird Food. Whether you have a big or small garden, there is something available for you. To find out more about the products they provide and whether they are suitable for the birds who frequent your garden, head to their website!
Helping the Hedgehogs
Hedgehogs are abundant in gardens across the country and contribute toward the ecosystem in your garden, as well as their flying companions. Quieter and shyer than birds, you will have to remain in the shadows and at a distance to spot a prickle of these friendly fellows. There are several ways that you can make your garden suitable for hedgehogs to reside in, and they require minimal effort on your part!
First things first, you want to ensure that hedgehogs and other small animals – like squirrels and frogs – have a way of getting out of your garden if they so wish. You don’t want to be locking them in! By ensuring that there are gaps at the bottom of your garden fences, you allow them a safe route out of your outdoor space and a way of finding more food resources. When creating a safe space for hedgehogs to sleep, consider building a hedgehog box with a member of your family. They are simple enough to make and can fill an afternoon with fun while ensuring hedgehogs’ safety.
Beekeeping in Your Backyard
Insulation for Insects
When we think of ways to help the wildlife in our gardens and outdoor spaces, our minds very rarely go straight to the insects that reside there, but they are just as important! Whether they pollinate the flowers and plants that you have in the area or provide an alternative food source to birds and hedgehogs, they also require a helping hand now and again. If you want to create safe spaces for them to rest in your garden, creating an insect hotel is a great place to start. Quick, easy, and simple to make; these can be placed in your garden for a very long time and are durable against mother nature’s forces.
Building an insect hotel is not the only way to contribute to the overall quality of life for insects and bugs within your garden. By planting a wide range of flowers and plants, you are providing them with plenty of opportunities to consume the nectar the flowers will be producing; you will be decorating your garden with beautiful plants while helping the insects, which in turn will be tending to the plants for you! It is undoubtedly a win-win situation here.
There are plenty of ways that you can look after the wildlife in your home, but it must be remembered not to get too invested or too personal with them. Animals like hedgehogs and badgers can be frightened by humans, bright lights, and household pets, so ensure you keep your distance while helping, and things are sure to be harmonious.
