Posts

Posted on

Bus Shelter Opening

We had a marvellous turnout of 25 people for the Bridford Bus Shelter launch on Thursday 7th September. It was lovely to have some of the Cubs with us who had contributed gorgeous birds and butterflies, as well as the trio of artists – Lucy from Whippletree, Lucy Smerdon and Pippa Marriott – who have created the different elements. Jennifer Padgham, Parish Council chair, officiated, and chat and fizz and buns were enjoyed as well as a delightful community buzz. Big thanks to Judy, and Lou too, for all their work and the splendid flowers.

Posted on

Wildlife Warden Update – September

September’s Wildlife Challenge

Create a bug hotel

This month’s challenge is to build a bug hotel.  An average garden can support more than 2000 species of insect and a good balance of insects is a great way of managing your garden naturally, for example ladybirds, lacewings and hoverflies will eat aphids so protecting your plants from them. These insects are part of the foundation of a wildlife friendly garden and looking closely at these mini lives amongst the flowers and shrubs can be a fascinating insight into a very different world.  Providing a bug hotel helps many species reproduce and over winter.  You don’t need to go out and buy one of these, but can make one using reclaimed wood, old pallets, hay, bamboo canes, dried out hogweed stems.  See building a bug mansion on the the Wildlife Trust website for great advice on putting one together.

A simple way to create a quick bee hotel is to get a log and drill holes between 2 and 6mm diameter and about 15 mm deep into a log.  Put this slightly angled down (so it’s protected from rain) and in a sunny south facing position. Alternatively, if you have a few logs you can create your own wood sculpture and then leave this to rot in the garden.  Rotten wood is a crucial habitat for many insects, including beetles and centipedes.

Another thing to remember is not to cut back all your stems and flower heads at the end of summer, as leaving some of these means that insects can over winter in them.  The common knapweed, for example, is a prime bit of real estate – the Epiblema cirsiana moth larva overwinters in its stem, the Metzneria metzneriella moth larva and the Urophora sp fly stay in the seed head. Another example is the Endothenia gentianaeana moth larva which uses teasel heads to hunker down over winter.  Visually the bare bones of these plants can give a bit of winter interest to your garden.

It is great to see that a more insect friendly approach to gardening is being increasingly widely embraced and promoted.  The Royal Entomological Society Garden at Chelsea Flower Show won a silver medal and showed how incorporating insect habitat into a garden can be both ecologically important and beautiful. See RHS Chelsea for further information about this garden.

Hedgehogs in Bridford

We are pleased to say there have been various hedgehogs sightings recently in Bridford.  Have you seen any?  If you have, please do let us know where, as it will be good to keep a record.

By Lucy Smerdon (with thanks to Sam Gray for his moth expertise) wildlifewarden@bridfordvillage.co.uk

Posted on

Bridford Wildlife Warden – July update

Monthly Wildlife Challenge – July’s Challenge

This month’s challenge is to provide a water source for wildlife. Whether this is a dish of water, a bird bath or a small pond, providing a water source is one of the most important things you can do for wildlife.

After a wet spring, we have had a prolonged dry spell in May and June. Collecting rain water when it falls, is a great way to conserve water and provide it for your garden plants and wildlife. Connecting a water butt to a roof gutter is the most effective way to do this and there are many cheap water butts available second hand through websites such as Gumtree. Another good way to keep water topped up is by putting a bucket in the shower, particularly while the shower heats up, and using a washing up bowl to collect run off in the kitchen sink. Avoid getting soap in the water. This water can then be added to a butt, watering can, or bird bath.

A little refreshment
A shallow dish of water on the ground outside provides some vital refreshment for wildlife and could be used by birds, invertebrates or if you are lucky, a hedgehog. Alternatively you could use a shallow old pot as a birdbath. Have you got any teasles? The leaves of these plants growing up the stalk create a natural cup for water, creating a fly by pit stop for passing birds and insects. For more advice on providing water see the Wildlife Trusts advice at how to provide water

Create a pond
Creating a pond is one of the main things you can do to increase biodiversity where you live. Many invertebrates depend on a water source to complete their life cycle, with flying insects such as dragonflies and some species of hoverflies starting out as water dwelling larvae. Amphibians such as newts will also thank you for a pond in which they can spend their mating season and lay their eggs.
The pond does not need to be complex or big. In fact, larger ponds are best made in autumn/ winter when there is more water. Put out a large water tight container (such as a Belfast sink) and collect water in it. You could dig this into the ground or build up the ground it. Create a shallower end with rocks and gravel so that amphibians, birds and small mammals can get in and out. And then just leave it and see what finds its way there, it is amazing what does. Please see creating a mini pond for more details.

The Bridford Verges
The Wildlife Wardens spent a morning on the verges in June. We are pleased to report that the Yellow Rattle that was sown in autumn 2022 has taken well. Though much of the winter was quite mild, we also had a few colder spells with temperatures below 0 degrees at night which the Rattle needs to germinate, so this has given it a good start. This annual plant will parasite on the grasses, enabling space for a wide range of wildflowers to take hold. We also took out thistles and docks – though these plants have value for wildlife, we are taking these out on the verges to make sure they don’t out compete the flowers while they become established.

[email protected]