April Wildlife Gardening
Plants for Wildlife
Spring-flowering bulbs, like crocuses and wood anemones, provide plenty of food for pollinators like bumblebees and hoverflies. Pond plants such as brooklime, water mint, and water forget-me-not attract a variety of insects, including butterflies, bees, and hoverflies.
Healthy Ecosystems
Avoid using herbicides and pesticides in your garden to support wildlife. Instead, let beneficial wild flowers like dandelions, daisies, and clover grow. These flowers provide nectar for pollinating insects and food for their larvae.
Feeding Wildlife
Many birds nest in mid-spring and rely on insects and caterpillars to feed their young. Earthworms are a favorite food for robins and blackbirds. Encourage earthworms by minimizing hard landscaping and mulching borders with organic matter.
Creating and Maintaining Habitats
Tawny mining bees are important pollinators that nest in lawns and flower beds. Swifts, which are declining in numbers, nest in buildings and trees. You can help swifts by installing a swift nest box under the eaves of your house.
Ladybirds
Ladybirds are beneficial insects that eat aphids. Encourage them into your garden by providing shelter, such as log piles and dead plant matter.
Growing Greener
Work with your community to improve sustainability. Buy peat-free compost in bulk to reduce your environmental impact. Support hedgehogs by creating access routes and nest sites in your garden.
