Love Garden Wildlife

The winter months are long and hard for our garden wildlife, and in February, you may find that things are starting to happen in the garden. Bulbs are starting to push through the cold ground and bird song is increasing as they start looking for nesting spaces.

February is one of the most important months of the year to feed wild birds as natural food reserves have been depleted by now.

Helping our wild birds:

  • Provide food by offering high-fat foods such as suet, sunflower hearts and mealworms are particularly good at this time of year.
  • Check water availability, if it’s freezing, break the ice on bird baths and water bowls.
  • Put up a nesting box, clean it if needed with boiling water to kill parasites, and then add a small amount of clean hay or wood shavings.

Frogs and toads:
Frogs often emerge from their hibernation in late February and will be quick to colonise any available ponds. They are ready to mate as soon as they appear – you may even get the first frog spawn at the end of February.
Wildlife ponds in the garden are a fantastic way to support a wide variety of creatures.

Hedgehogs
Hedgehogs should still be enjoying their winter hibernation in February. Don’t expect them to emerge until the end of March. And while it can be tempting to get going in the garden, try and avoid the urge to clear up and tidy just yet.

Leave piles of leaves and logs that have been there through winter so as not to disturb any wild creatures slumbering underneath. Put out some food for hedgehogs as they emerge.

Use this time to create habitats where wildlife can feed, sleep and hibernate. This will attract a wealth of creatures to enjoy your garden!

Dig or make a pond, keep a log pile or messy area in your garden, research plants that pollinators like and plan for them in your garden.

GOING WILD

Hedgehogs, bats, sparrows, song thrushes and stag beetles are all declining species in the UK,

We can manage our gardens to benefit wildlife, and these creatures will find refuge. It’s not hard to help. Consider a whole host of wild ideas and garden features or just pick one and then sit back, enjoy the view and see who visits!

Leave a Reply

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.
What Our Clients Say
105 reviews