Back in Lockdown, confined to home, how to encourage winter wildlife into your garden?
It is easy to think everything is dormant in winter, wildlife is taking a break. But looking out of a window for a few minutes shows birds flying across the sky. Listening to nature, as well as birdsong you may hear animals rusting through undergrowth and their calls too.
Make your Garden Winter Wildlife friendly
There are many simple and cheap ideas to encourage wildlife and birds into your garden at this time of year.
- Provide water. A pot plant saucer filled with water and a stone in the middle is perfect for birds to perch and drink. When it is cold, break the ice or add hot water to keep it liquid
- Provide food. Even in Lockdown, supermarkets and garden centres are open, they all sell different types of bird food, so try various options and see which birds come. If you buy seed, you may be surprised at the wildlife that comes to the base of feeders to gather what the birds drop.
- Provide perches for birds. Winter Wildlife Birds are not nesting at the moment, they like branches to perch on, places they can see what is happening before they commit to eating or drinking
- Provide cover for animals. A log pile, some leaves are perfect places for insects and small animals to reccy your garden for food and drink. Others may be hibernating there
- Provide shelter for insects. Insects are the foundation of winter wildlife; an insect rich garden will attract the birds and small mammals you may want to observe. Plant seed heads, leaf litter, twigs and logs attract all kinds of insects. You could decide to make a bug hotel as a lockdown project with items already in your garden.
Observe your winter wildlife
Spending time looking out of the window is good for us, aiding relaxation and feelings of calm. If you prefer to have a purpose the Big Garden Birdwatch is happening very soon; 29-31 January 2021. Spend an hour seeing what is in your garden.
As you look at your garden if there is something you want changing contact Chopwell. We are here to help turn your garden dreams to reality. In the meantime, enjoy your winter garden and your Winter Wildlife.
