Feeding Wildlife – Ray Collier – Wildlife in the North

two badgers feedingWhilst many readers provide food and shelter for birds in their gardens it is also important  to cater and plan  for other wildlife.  Inevitably butterflies come to mind but there are also  mammals, dragonflies and amphibians to take into account.  All these can be equally rewarding.  The sight of a hedgehog coming for food or a dragonfly egg-laying in the smallest of ponds can be really pleasing.

Butterflies are easy to attract by providing them with what they need as far as a nectar source for the adults.  I try to plan for a series of nectars sources to be available from early spring to the autumn.  Buddleias, Sedums, Scabious and Chives will meet this criteria depending on the weather.  Unfortunately this year the weather has been so poor that despite all the flowers available in my garden there have been almost no butterflies.    What many people do not realise is that what attract butterflies will also attract other insects, particularly moths.   The problem is that most moths fly at night so apart from the few that come to the light of windows we do not see them.   So  try going outside with a weak  torch and look at the blossoms at night and you will be surprised.

Just as we put out food for birds so we can put out food for mammals and see them, although most of them, such as hedgehogs, pine martens and badgers, are nocturnal.  Garden centres will provide food for mammals and most of the local ones stock food for hedgehogs.   An easy option is to use Pedigree Chum dog food diluted with crumbled dog biscuit, at least according the book I more often than not refer to.  It is “Hedgehogs” by Pat Morris.  He advises against bread and milk which many people use.    Some people are lucky enough to have badgers visit their gardens and we are fortunate in that we now have them coming in most nights simply for peanuts.   Watching badgers in such circumstances is easy as by using a red filter on a torch  you can watch the badgers, even at close range, as  they cannot register red light.   Another interesting  fact is that you can use  flash to photograph badgers  they pay no attention to the sudden flash of light.  The photograph is  of badgers in the garden taken last week.

One very significant feature for wildlife  gardening in general is a pond.  Indeed I would go as far as to say they are essential for wildlife, even in  small gardens.     There are many books that give you details of constructing such ponds but there are a few general and important points.  Make the pond as big as you possibly  can whether natural with a  water source via a pipe or artificial.  If you have no water source then an easy alternative is a firm liner, as opposed  to a flexible membrane.  Make sure the water depth varies by a  series of shelves and the deepest water must be at least two feet to stop the water, and wildlife, from freezing.  In general do not put fish in a pond as they will  eat the young of frogs and dragonflies.  If you must have fish then have two ponds, one for fish and the other for wildlife.

There are many other approaches to wildlife gardening such as nestboxes for bats, special feeders for red squirrels or putting out apples for roe deer and these will be covered in a future posts.    Meanwhile go along to a garden centre and see the wide range of options available.

Tags: