Creating small wildlife patches in my garden.

This morning I uploaded a photo of my cat sitting on the footstool in a, currently, unkept piece of the garden. I noticed that she was there or there about on and off all day. The area in the foreground has been designated to be slabbed over to take a greenhouse. I see no reason why the section immediately behind the slabs can't be left a little wild.

Another area with possibilities is this which I alluded to in an earlier thread.


It is a space behind the summer house which is not visible from any other part of the garden. I could put a fence panel in front of the chain link. There is already an old piece of wood down there which is blocking up a hole in the bottom of the wooden fence. I have some large pebbles that I need to put somewhere. Maybe I could utilize those too.


Any thoughts would be appreciated.

G.

 

I have plenty of tree trimmings I can use. I also have plenty of rocks, bark chippings and wild flowers coming out of my ears (weeds rather that wild flowers). I can soon fill that area with a variety of different habitats. Until recently it was full of weeds anyway.

How would I protect my neighbours garden from all my wild plants? At the moment there is only a chain link fence there.

On a similar but slightly different note. Can I keep the weeds I like (self heal, willow herb, nettles) in pots ready to plant out in the spring? Does it work that way or will they not keep. Otherwise I will just have to carry on 2ith designated non kept areas.

G.

 

@Jack Sparrow , given that it's so close to your neighbours garden and very visible to them, I don't think they will thank you if you allow the nettles to take over! Why not plant a wildlife friendly plant along the chain link fence, say Honeysuckle or a wild rose to give some cover? It would look much better than a fence panel, which isn't wildlife friendly, except as a perch for birds. Then in front of it plant your wildflowers or whatever you choose.

 

Hi @Redwing . Yes that would be my preference. Something that would stay reasonably neat on both sides. That area is pretty dark. It receives early morning dappled shade through the trees but nothing once the sun moves around.

I guess too late to start anything off now. If it takes 2 to 3 years to cover the fence, then I had better wait before starting anything else.

G.

 

If you want to screen the area, and provide a little wind-proof barrier to prevent the seeds spreading, you could use bamboos fencing rolls? I think they sell them in Aldi as one of their specials? It is soft, so will flex around any obstacles, and the hollow stems will also provide a little wildlife cover for beetles. Then plant your honeysuckle next to it. The honeysuckle will appreciate the little extra support, and will probably wind through, in and out. After about 5 years the honeysuckle will be established, and the bamboo screen will be starting to break down.