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Green fingers at the ready



Green fingers at the ready

April 10, 2017

It’s National Garden Week (10-16 April 2017) so here are some ideas on how you can get inspired and bring a little bit of wild to your garden, however big or small…

Bee Creative

The Wildlife Trusts have some top tips on encouraging bees to your garden this spring such as:

  • Growing nectar and pollen-rich plants
  • Letting some of your lawn grow tall
  • Building a bee home

Visit their website here for full details and information on how you can download your FREE action pack for bees.

Encourage nocturnal wildlife

Encourage moths to your garden by planting some of these flowers which release their scent at night:

  • Buddleia
  • Evening primrose
  • Globe artichoke
  • Jasmine

Add some water…

A pond is one feature which is guaranteed to attract wildlife to your garden at an astonishing speed! You’ll soon be spotting birds, amphibians, insects, mammals and a host of mini-beasts. Even a small water feature makes a huge difference for the wildlife in your area – especially during the hot summer months.

Visit the National Gardening Week website for advice on building and maintaining your pond.

Help the birds

Lots of birds are starting to nest. You’ll spot them flitting back and forth, busily collecting materials to make the perfect home for their eggs and chicks. Why not put up a nest box to increase their choice of nesting sites, or ensure your feeders are fully stocked to help keep their energy levels up.

Don’t have a garden?

Fear not, the South Downs National Park is the perfect place for getting out into nature and it’s absolutely free! You can download a free walk or cycle guide here, or why not check out our online discovery map for ideas on where to explore. Make sure you leave some time to just sit and soak up the views or spot some wildlife.

For more gardening ideas click here or for a full list of events happening right across the UK during National Gardening Week click here.