Garden Spring wildlife

Garden Spring wildlife

© Janet Packham Photography

Some ideas on how to help wildlife in your garden in spring and some of the species you might see as the weather warms.

There’s so much to see even if at the moment the only wildlife you’re interacting with is that in your garden. Have a peek under rocks, delve gently into the hedge or wait and watch to see what’s visiting your blooms. Insects are likely the most abundant, ladybirds in the long grass, pollinators fluttering by, snails making their slow crawl along the path, ants busy gathering food – hopefully all things you might discover. Migrant birds are starting to flock over Alderney as they head northwards, you might get some dropping in for a drink and some food at your bird table or bath. Chiff chaffs, black caps, redstart and swallows have all been spotted in the last week in increasing numbers.

If you have wild flowers growing in the garden you might like to take a look at Lindsay’s blogs, up twice a week and covering a different flower each time – www.alderneywildlife.org/blog

Now is a great time to build a pond – even a small one in an old pot will help attract wildlife. You’ll be amazing how quickly things colonise the water. Or, with all of us eating in and therefore likely cooking more perhaps start a compost. All your fruit and veg waste can go in the pile rather than in your black bag waste. You could start building your pile using garden trimmings and add kitchen waste once there is a bit of shape to your pile. Covering with a tarp or fencing in with old pallets will help keep rodents at bay.

As always don’t forget to get in touch with your wild sightings headofoutreach@alderneywildlife.org – the sightings board has moved to avoid unnecessary trips but we will keep posting photos to our social media accounts weekly.