Helping Winter Wildlife on a Budget

Most gardeners, on some level, are concerned about the state of the local ecological environment. Gardening and wildlife are synonymous with one another, with certain members of the natural world playing a key part in pest control for the ornamental plant and vegetable grower. Whilst some of us may not like the huge spider lurking in the corner, such a beast is vital for ensuring flies don’t get out of control. Likewise, birds will happily snack upon juicy aphids and caterpillars throughout the year, providing the gardener with the most organic pest control that there is. Especially for those who grow organically, wildlife is a key player in providing the best garden possible.

So, as the winter weather starts to loom dangerously close, you may be preparing to help out garden friends in whatever way that you can. Dashing to a local plant outlet and filling the trolley with bird tables, feeders, foods, bug boxes and other wildlife orientated products can quickly turn into an expensive extravagance. However, with many items easy to make yourself, and often lasting longer and looking better than their shop bought comparatives, you can make wildlife friendly garden items even on the most meager of budgets.

Creating homemade bird tables and food is one of the easiest processes. Ultimately, a bird table is simply a vertical post with a horizontal platform nailed to the top of it so that food can be placed out for birds to eat. A beautiful and natural looking option for such a table is to use an old tree trunk, secured to the ground by digging it several feet into the earth, and topped with a circular cross section from a larger trunk. This larger disc can simply be nailed into the top of the tree trunk before pieces of bread and food scraps are left out. A large overhang from the disc will additionally allow items of food, such as fat balls, to be hung on string.

Creating bird feed at home is also very easy, and making fat balls is an ideal opportunity to reuse spent lard. Simply buy a bag of bird seed, melt down some fat or lard, and mix the two together in a container such as a yogurt pot. By using a piece of string in the middle of the mix before putting it into the freezer for several hours, you can create homemade fat balls high in energy for birds, which you can simply hang from trees or a custom made bird table.

Meanwhile, many gardeners are keen to protect the bug species in their gardens that help control pests. There is a multitude of often vastly expensive bug boxes on the market to act as winter protection roosts for species such as ladybirds and lacewings which both prey on aphids. However, all that is needed for a bug friendly winter retreat is a bundle of hollow sticks that are placed in a secluded spot. Garden canes cut into segments, the hollow stems of bush rushes, or even pieces of wood that you have drilled holes into are ideal. Gathering an assortment of diameters together will encourage a larger range of bug types and tying them into a bundle, before placing several feet off the ground in a dense shrub is perfect.

There is no need to spend a fortune on winter protection for wildlife, especially when they such creatures will be more than happy with a home made attempt. Helping to recycle an assortment of items, homemade items such as bird tables and bug boxes will not only help the environment and your wallet, but they’ll fill you with a sense of pride too.

photo by qmnonic

Posted by Geoff Wakeling on November 17 2010. Filed under Contributors.
Geoff Wakeling is a London gardener, blogger and a guest writer for Brookside Patio Furniture, which specializes in wicker patio furniture.