At this time of year there is so much going on in the garden - here are a few ways of introducing some wildlife to your outside space.
- Any bird-feeder whether the most expensive fancy gizmo from a garden centre, or just a plate of seeds on a table will encourage feathery birds into your garden. You may even see something exotic if you're lucky!
- Birdhouses: Fit a couple of bird boxes or reed bird houses in your garden to encourage birds to stay and move in! Site them fairly high and in well sheltered positions.
- Plant flowers that attract insects such as lavender, thyme and Buddleia.
- For bugs and ladybirds, and even frogs if you're lucky, keep a pile of old branches or logs in a shady spot. They will be attracted to the warm, dark, damp atmosphere and will set up home. Not one for those mums scared of spiders!
- A water bath can be as simple as a saucer of water and this will encourage birds to bath or drink in the garden.
- Worms and centipedes love compost so how about create a compost heap or compost bin and encourage some long, slithery worms to the garden.
- Throw some wild flower seeds on a patch of soil or grass. The pretty flowers will grown and provide a meadow-like patch which is really pretty and easy to maintain.
- Try not to cultivate all areas of the garden. Leave some damp leaves or grass cuttings in a pile to welcome bugs frogs, hedgehogs and spiders looking for a home.
- Take cuttings from friends and family and plant your own trees and shrubs for free! Just pop any cuttings into a pot of soil and see how your garden grows! Great fun!
Most of all, get the children involved and get them muddy too! Nothing is more exciting for a toddler or pre-schooler than dirty hands, mucky knees and a brown, muddy smudge on their nose! Start a diary project and draw what you do and what you observe in the garden.