Building A Wildlife Pond In A UK Garden

Easy access matters most. A shallow, gently sloping edge lets amphibians move in and out of the water without difficulty, while steep, hard-edged ponds can be surprisingly difficult for them to use. Nearby damp, shady spots, a log pile or a compost heap close to the pond, give them somewhere to shelter and hibernate once they leave the water for the colder months.

Shelter is often overlooked. Many UK bee species are solitary rather than hive-dwelling, and a patch of bare, undisturbed soil in a sunny spot can serve as nesting ground for mining bees, while hollow stems and drilled wood blocks suit species that nest above ground. Choosing biological pest control over chemical sprays around flowering borders also helps protect the insects visiting them.

A garden pond, even a small one, is one of the most valuable additions for wildlife. Frogs and newts use it to breed, dragonflies and damselflies lay eggs in it, and birds and hedgehogs will drink and bathe at the edges given the chance.

For gardeners wanting an alternative to chemical sprays, a soil-applied option is worth considering as a first step, and a good starting point is a range of slug nematodes for http://test54.utohouse.co.kr/bbs/board.php?bo_table=free&wr_id=1018960 gardens suited to the pest in question.

Nematodes are microscopic roundworms that occur naturally in soil, and certain species have been developed for use against specific garden pests. Rather than acting as a broad chemical treatment, each nematode species is matched to a particular pest, seeking it out and interrupting its lifecycle with far less impact on the rest of the garden than a chemical spray.

Winter is one of the harder seasons for garden wildlife. Natural food becomes scarce, cold weakens smaller animals quickly, and many species rely on undisturbed shelter to see them through to spring rather than active foraging.