Welcome to the April edition of our wildlife-friendly gardening blog.   

Spring has finally sprung! Pots of grape hyacinths and native primroses are helping to feed bees and other pollinators. While borders are springing to life with nectar-rich lungwort and forget-me-nots. Look out for aerobatic swifts arriving later in the month as well as aphid munching seven-spot ladybirds. 

The warmer days mean we can start sowing seeds for summer blooms – sunflowers are a firm favourite with children (of all ages!) and provide nectar for bumblebees as well as seeds for birds in the autumn. Many attractive plants have more than one use in the wildlife garden. Companion plants such as marigolds and nasturtiums, are great for attracting pollinators, some of which will be natural predators (lacewings and hoverflies) that help control aphids. Herbs such as oregano and thyme are great for cooking but leave some to flower as they are a good source of nectar for insects. Chives, and other scented herbs, can also help deter aphids from prized plants, including roses. Borage flowers are a super nectar source for bees and the leaves (soaked in water for one to two weeks) can make a free liquid plant food. What’s not to like!? 

When selecting which flower seeds to sow, or plants to buy, remember to avoid overly ‘frilly’ flowers. These have been bred only for their looks. They provide little, if any, nourishment to insects which struggle to battle through the ‘froth’ of petals for meagre supplies of nectar.  Think about sowing some cornfield annuals in a sunny spot. These will give a cheery summer display in a large pot or flower bed and will be a great ‘café’ for insects. Discover more plants to help pollinators here.

Blackbirds, blue tits, and great tits will be busy collecting caterpillars and other insects to feed their brood. Blue tits are helping keep fruit tree moth caterpillars in check, providing a timely reminder that so called ‘pests’ are important food for other wildlife. Each chick needs around 100 caterpillars per day to survive, so to successfully rear a brood of 8-12 gives gardeners some very efficient ‘pest’ control. Recent research by Sussex University has shown that bird numbers were significantly lower in gardens where chemicals were used. Please help garden birds and also Take action for insects - ditch the ‘bug gun’ and let your garden find a natural balance of predators and prey. Take a look at our website for tips on how to avoid chemicals.  

Romance is in the air, and newts will now be ‘courting’ in garden ponds and looking for plants to lay their eggs on. You can help by adding plants such as water forget-me-not and brooklime - the leaves can be folded by newts to protect their eggs. Submerged plants such as native hornwort are great oxygenators and also provide shelter for tadpoles and dragonfly larvae. For more tips on ponds, check out our handy guide. It is likely that ponds will need topping up during the summer, so plan ahead and think about harvesting rainwater to replenish yours. 

Could you join our team of wildlife-friendly gardeners? If you take at least six actions for wildlife, you might be eligible for one of our garden plaques. Look out for more wildlife friendly and sustainable gardening tips in next month’s blog. 

Thank you for helping wildlife! Working together we can help create a Wilder Dorset!