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

July’s damp, cool weather was certainly a contrast to June’s scorching conditions. I’m very grateful, however, that the waterbutts have refilled and that we haven’t experienced the devastating temperatures felt in southern Europe. 

In the wildlife garden this month, look out for the beautiful humming-bird hawk-moth. A summer visitor from southern Europe and north Africa, whose numbers vary year to year depending on weather conditions. With its hovering flight and long tongue, this amazing daytime flying moth is sometimes mistaken for a small exotic bird! 

Cinnabar moths are also ‘out and about’ this month. Their larvae are just one of many species, including some rarities, which rely solely on the leaves and stems of ragwort for food. Ragwort flowers are an amazing source of pollen and nectar for a variety of insects, including butterflies, beetles and solitary bees. Frequently removed from fields and paddocks, ragwort can pose a health threat if grazed by livestock. In a garden or wild space, however, it is an amazing foodplant supporting over 200 species - so please think before you 'weed’. 

Also on the wing is our species of the month, the holly blue butterfly. In Dorset it is warm enough for this species to have two generations a year – so the ones we are seeing now are the offspring of the adults you might have spotted earlier in the year. 

Top nectar sources for insects this month include succulent sedums, tasty marjoram, and colourful rudbeckias. If you spot gaps in your borders, pop in perennials like salvias or asters which will provide sources of pollen and nectar through late summer and autumn. Keep deadheading plants in pots or baskets and give them a weekly feed with your home-made tonics (for tips on making these please see July's blog). Some roses, such as Rosa canina and Rosa setipoda, will produce hips if you don’t remove all the spent flowers. This will give a much-needed splash of colour through the winter and could be a lifesaver for hungry birds and small mammals.  

Many earlier flowering plants, such as foxglove and sweet-william, will have set seed by now. So, it’s a good idea to collect and save some for future sowing. Choose a dry day and shake the seed heads into a paper bag. Seed can keep for several years if stored in a cool dry place, but if you have too much remember to share with friends. A word to the wise, don’t forget to include a label - this year I grew wild carrots, which although pretty was supposed to be scabious! Not all seeds will store well, for example yellow rattle – also known as the ‘meadow maker’ - is best sown fresh, between now and the end of December.  

If you grow any fruit and veg you will know the benefits of encouraging pollinators and natural predators, plus the importance of healthy soil for good yields. National Allotment Week runs from 7 – 13 August and many ‘allotmenteers’ already do lots to help wildlife! If you have an allotment, please have a look at our wildlife friendly spaces webpage - if you have a log pile or compost heap and are chemical and peat free you could qualify for one of our lovely plaques. 

Finally, don’t forget to stop for a while to enjoy the wildlife visiting your garden or allotment. Take time to celebrate that you are helping to create a Wilder Dorset.

See you next month!