Great Tit in bird box – Now is a great time to clean them out. Images by Andy Karran


GWENT WI LDL IFE TRUST CREATE A WINTER WONDERLAND FOR WILDLIFE


10 things to do for wildlife in your garden this winter by Gwent Wildlife Trust’s Senior Conservation Ecologist Andy Karran


It feels to me like our local wildlife has never been so important to us as it has this year, providing a very welcome distraction from what has been going on in the world. We should therefore do what we can to return the favour, remembering that unlike many of us, nature doesn’t like things too neat!


Here’s a list of the top ten of things can we all do at this time of year, to make our gardens a winter wonderland for wildlife!


l First up, feed the birds, nobody feeds the birds more than us in the UK, which is great. Try to put out a variety of food to feed different species. Sunflower hearts, fat-balls, Niger seed and mealworms are all greatly appreciated. And if you buy your birdseed from VinehouseFarm, every purchase raises funds for your local Wildlife Trust. Visit www.gwentwildlife.org/feed-birds to do so.


l If you have to gather up fallen leaves then try spreading them on your flowerbeds, they will break down to provide a good mulch and make a superb hideaway for invertebrates which in turn provide great foraging for your resident Song Thrushes and Blackbirds.


l If hedges need cutting back, don’t do it too harshly or too early in the winter, otherwise you will be removing valuable warm roosting sites and cutting off all the berries that the birds want to eat. (Don’t leave it until next spring however as you don’t want to be disturbing any nesting birds!)


Ivy – Its flowers, berries and dense foliage are all great for wildlife. 75


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GWENT WI LDL I F E TRUST A WINT ER WONDERLAND


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