Wildlife experts 7 essential steps to prevent animals and your garden from suffering
AS THE golden hues of October (and quite a bit of rain) adorn our gardens, it’s a good month to invite vital wildlife.
With populations of caterpillars, insects, slugs and snails drastically declining, there is much less food available.
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And combined with the colder temperatures, the need for shelter, food and water for the remaining insects, birds, beetles and mammals increases.
Remember, we need wildlife for pollination, pest control, waste management and nutrient recycling in our outdoor spaces.
HEDGEHOGS
Hedgehogs combat garden pests, such as caterpillars. Let them in by building hedgehog highways that connect gardens. You can even buy small hedgehog houses and be careful that they don’t hide in piles of leaves that you are going to burn/take. Provide water, cat or dog food or cat biscuits to supplement their natural diet. For advice on how to help hedgehogs, visit www.hedgehogstreet.org
BEES
They are still around, so make sure you plant some fall nectar for them. Asters and Verbena Bonariensis are two that will also add some color to your outdoor space. And despite the temptation, you shouldn’t cut back all your ivy; they absolutely love it.
BIRDS
Native species, such as robins, goldfinches and blue tits, will start hunting for food as the days become shorter and colder.
Set out some food bowls filled with energy-dense foods such as sunflower seeds, fat balls and suet cakes. and keep the water baths topped up.
It is also a good time to clean or set up new nest boxes for shelter. Leave seed heads on plants such as sunflowers and teasels to provide food.
Kirk Rothwell, van Hungrysaid: “Autumn brings shorter daylight hours and dropping temperatures, which means wild birds
having to work extra hard to find a meal. We want to remind the public that now is the time to really take a little more time to care for our feathered friends.
“Wild birds’ natural food sources are depleted in very cold conditions, and some small birds can lose up to 40 percent of their fat reserves in just one cold night. Give them protein-rich, fatty foods to help them build up fat reserves to help them survive the winter.”
PLANT TREES
The Forest trust say native species such as holly, hawthorn and rowan are all suitable for small outdoor spaces, providing essential food and shelter for birds, insects and small mammals during the colder months.
BUG HOTEL
You can go as budget or five-star as you want with this, but it essentially means you’re making a stack (hotel) of tree trunks, leaves, pine cones, twigs – and then wait for the insects and mini-beasts to take up residence. Plus, they’re a great way to avoid getting tipped while traveling with all your green waste.
LEAVE THE LEAVES
Gone are the days when every leaf had to be plucked from the garden. They not only provide nutrients to the soil as they rot, but also provide much-needed shelter for insects, hedgehogs and small animals.
APPLES
Don’t be tempted to pick up all your fallen apples; the rotting fruit benefits the entire ecosystem; butterflies, earwigs, thrushes, badgers, foxes and small mammals all love it.
THIS WEEK IN VERONICA’S COLUMN
Garden news, tips, discounts and a great competition to win an autumn bundle worth over €200
NEWS! This year it may take longer for the beautiful autumn colors of the trees to appear in your garden – thanks to the rain.
Trees hang on to their leaves longer – due to the wet spring and colder summer.
Pamela Smith, senior national adviser for gardens and parks at the National Trust, said: “We’ve seen a very mixed bag of conditions so far this year – mainly the boggy start, but as we see a gradual drop in temperatures along with more stabilization as we However, getting a sharp, hard frost or seeing even more wet weather with gales, heavy rain and wind across the UK could cut short a longer show.”
NEWS! Take part in the RHS Big Seed Save – which runs until October 20 – by saving your own seeds and sharing them with friends and neighbors. It’s a great way to get free plants and try new ones. You can even drop some off at community centers like food banks or libraries. Before you do that, check with local organizations to find out what they can accept. Or leave some in a communal area, such as the reception room of your apartment or the garden wall.
TOP TIP! Check out gardening price cuts from places like Home Bargains and B&M. Many stores have given huge discounts to make way for Christmas. We reported this week how B&M was selling £8 outdoor cushions for 50p
WIN! Win an incredible one Kent and Stowe Fall Bundle – worth more than €200. You have everything you need: rake, bulb planter, shovel, trowel, pruning shears, loppers and scissors. Complete this to enter FORM or for more information visit www.thesun.co.uk/KENTSTOWE or write to PO Box 3190, Colchester, Essex, CO2 8GP. Please include your name, age, email address or telephone number. UK residents 18+ only. Ends 23.59GMT. 26.10.24 General terms and conditions apply.
TO RESCUE! Get those leaves out the easy way with a £13.06 hand rake from Spear and Jackson or go for the £2.65 version from EAYOLY – both on Amazon
VACANCY OF THE WEEK Start by mulching the bare soil left in the beds. It helps retain moisture, keeps the soil warmer and adds nutrients to the soil.
TOP TIP Your tomatoes are unlikely to turn red now unless there is strong, unexpected sun. Try placing them in a drawer at room temperature to see if they turn.
