Someone once made the claim that the single best thing you can do for
wildlife is provide a pond. This gets repeated all over the shop, but I haven’t
been able to find the actual, ahem, source. Not that it sounds too barmy;
doesn’t everything need a drink now and again? Anyway, we’ll be able to test the
theory ourselves: with the help of Nate and Jemma Dyson (see pictures)
we’ve just installed a water point in the nature garden. It’s a wide dish
with stepped sides set into the ground so creatures of all sizes can use it.
Although not big enough for plants or fish, it’ll give bugs and birds a
reliable water station – and maybe amphibians and mammals will stop for
a sip too. I learn from Dave Goulson’s book ‘The Garden Jungle’ that water
boatmen, pond skaters and water beetles can all fly, so we may get some true
pondlife into the bargain.We can keep the water point topped
up with unchlorinated water now that the butt is rigged and filling (thanks
to Luke James and UVHAT). If you’re ever passing and see the level in the
dish has dropped, feel free to use the watering can by the butt to replenish.
Besides putting in the mini pond, volunteers have given the wildflower
meadow its annual chop. As you’d expect after its cut (essential to
prevent grasses dominating) it’s looking somewhat dowdy, but still
attracting lots of wildlife. The disgruntled residents of a bee’s nest turned
out to protest when we started raking off the straw, and the area is teeming
with crickets, beetles, worms and woodlice. We’ll do some selective grass
removal and re-seeding in the next few weeks.
Other upcoming tasks include cutting back the hedge plants to encourage
them to bush out more. Plus weeding and mulching the perennials. If you’d
like to be involved and don’t yet receive volunteer mailings, please drop a
line to kieronhumph@gmail.com
Kieron