How to Help Wildlife in your Garden - February
Despite the early signs of Spring, February can be a very cold and wet month, so it’s really important to keep looking after the wildlife in your garden.
Nesting Boxes
If you haven’t already done so, February is a good month to clean out any nesting boxes. Birds may be using nesting boxes for shelter and will soon look to find a place to bring up their young. If you’re putting up nesting boxes, make sure they’re fixed at the correct height and facing the correct way for the species you want to attract and provide a home for.
Feeding birds
As in January, it’s important to keep feeding your birds high energy food such as suet balls and nuts. They’ll also appreciate fruit such as apples, as will small mammals, as a tasty meal.
Don’t forget to keep a shallow source of water for birds to drink and bathe in.
Hungry Hedgehogs
Even though it’s only February, milder days can cause hedgehogs to come out of hibernation. Having slept for months, they will be very hungry and need building up. Leave out water and meat based, dog or cat food but remember to discard any uneaten food as to prevent flies laying their eggs in it.
Go native!
We all know how important trees are but the hedges are equally, if not, more valuable for wildlife. As they provide all year round shelter and food for birds and mammals. Now is a great time to plant hedging as bareroot hedges will often do better than the potted plants. Species such as dog rose, guelder rose, hawthorn and hazel make brilliant hedges and homes for your garden wildlife. Native plants are ideally suited to our climate and conditions, so if you have a choice go native!
Spring flowering pots
Pots of flowering crocus and primroses not only add a splash of colour to your garden but they provide food for bumblebees who are starting to wake up from hibernation.
Compost Heaps
As we start to spend more time in the garden, it’s tempting to do jobs like turning the compost heap. If possible hold off this task as it’s likely that frogs and small mammals maybe hibernating in your heap, so any disturbance could injure them or wake them up prematurely.