Twist issue 148 April 2023

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Tw st Boost wildlife habitats in Blue Tit enjoying a spiked apple This small-holed box will attract Tit family members House Sparrow nesting box 22 Planning your wildlife garden or a community wildspace is certainly not rocket science, but it does require thought and, sometimes, imagination too. Prof Ian Rotherham explains A KEY thing to consider when attempting to attract more wildlife to your garden is how your site or place differs from wild nature - and especially what it lacks. Then, you come up with ways to plug the gaps! Look carefully at wilder places and more natural sites and think about the wildlife species you hope to attract. You can then devise and design features to mimic the natural world and to provide mini-habitats or habitat boosters to deliver what the wildlife species require. Feeding the birds in a range and variety of ways is one example, and this has evolved from the Victorian practice of throwing a few crumbs onto the ground, to what is now a sophisticated and indeed, multimillion pound industry. How you feed and what you provide depends on your target birds and, of course, how much you want to spend or can afford. Don’t worry, there are relatively low cost ways of doing this as well. We will touch on some of these in a later feature. Most gardens lack breeding and roosting sites for birds, bats and insects, and so this is an easy way to supplement the provision. Bird boxes, bat boxes, and bug boxes can be huge fun. However, don’t assume that because you have provided a suitably placed, upmarket ‘des res’ the birds or bats or even the bugs, will come. Blue tits, for instance, will check out several different possible nesting sites before choosing one, and the final selection may be perplexing. We don’t view this from the bird’s-eye perspective, and I guess they know best. Strategy So, with bird boxes the best strategy is as many as possible and in slightly different positions and then let them get on with choosing. Avoid sites with direct, hot sun in summertime afternoons, and anywhere that might have excessive water run-off down, say, the trunk of a tree. You will see water runnels marked out by algae and mosses, so simply ensure that doesn’t impact on your box. The selection of box types and locations depends on your garden, the trees or walls available to you, and the species of bird likely to take up your offer; and you need to be realistic to avoid disappointment. There is plenty of on-line guidance from the RSPB or the Wildlife Trusts on types, siting and suitability of boxes. It is fun to make them, but you can now also buy them very cheaply too. Bat boxes are rather more specialist but are a great boon to conservation. Again, as many as possible and in different locations. These will be used for roosting by bats, and they move around according to changes in weather etc; and once they are there, then they should not be disturbed. Bug boxes are great fun but for maximum effect, place in a sunny, exposed position and the solitary bees will surely move in. Our first free workshop on this topic will take place at Sheffield Botanical Gardens. I will be covering topics such as habitat creation and planning for nature, and looking both inside the garden and beyond to your neighbourhood community greenspaces. The event is on April 20th and thanks to a local sponsor supporting the Friends of Whirlow Brook Park, it is totally free. However, you do have to book, and places are limited: bookwhen.com/sybrg/e/ev-sdz8- 20230420133000 . There will be further details posted on our website. • Prof Ian D. Rotherham, researcher, writer, broadcaster on wildlife and environmental issues is contactable on info@hallamec.plus.com Follow his website and blog: www.ukeconet.org & ianswalkonthewildside.wordpress.com/ & Twitter @IanThewildside www.ukeconet.org .
Tw st your garden A roosting box for bats THE BIERHUIS Unit 6, Chatsworth Business Park - S40 2AR 01246 221680 THE ROSE & CROWN 104 Old Road S40 2QT 01246 563750 THE TRAMWAY TAVERN 192 Chatsworth Road S40 2AT 01246 200111 THE GLASS WORKS S41 8LF 01246 768688 GAROLLA PREMIUM Increased Security • Double Insulation One-Touch Close FREE FITTING PAYMENT ON INSTALLATION £895 COMPACT • UP TO 2.4M £1,990 PREMIUM 3.4M ANTHRACITE £2,740 PREMIUM 5.1M BLACK This box will attract a variety of bugs Improve, Don’t Move! Maximise the value of your home. SPACE-SAVING – MAXIMISE YOUR GARAGE HEADROOM SECURITY-ENABLED AUTO-LOCKING SYSTEM CHOICE OF 21 COLOURS TO MATCH YOUR HOME REMOVAL AND RECYCLING OF YOUR OLD DOOR DEDICATED AFTER-CARE TEAM www.garolla.co.uk Providing water will boost nature 4.8 out of 5 9.8 out of 10 23
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Twist issue 148 April 2023

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