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of ants scaled this giant, slicing through branches with their machines.I was quite upset but, ever the optimist, I used the opportunity to collect some local, native logs to make a nice wildlife habitat in my mum’s garden. I was sure she wouldn’t mind

pupating and emerging as an adult. They are usually species of fly or moth, but some are types of beetle or sawfly. There are flies that tunnel through spinach and beetroot, moths that fashion phallic-shaped 'cases' from leaves of apples, beetles that leave

Last year I wrote about autumn tidying and the effect this can have on wildlife. I left my garden untouched over winter, leaving hibernating creatures snuggled under a duvet of fallen leaves and rotting stems. None of my plants died or were ravaged

mind, I seem more aware of the other inhabitants of my compost heap. Last Sunday I noticed some sort of eggs had been laid on the underside of the lid; further down there was an ants’ nest, while masses of worms, rove beetles and woodlice writhed

again, I’ve been dreaming about a big, leafy, watery garden. But why three ponds? Well, they would be of different sizes and depths, and therefore attract a wide range of wildlife. I would dig a large, deep pond, a medium-sized pond and a small, shallow

weeks, just when the beetles, caterpillars and slugs that hedgehogs rely on for food are themselves settling down to hibernate. Despite being nocturnal, autumn orphans are likely to be seen out during the day as they try to find food to gain weight

, butterflies, beetles and some birds, urgently need our help. If there aren't sufficient habitats for them in our cities and countryside, we can help them in our gardens.Thanks to Mark Parsons at Butterfly Conservation for his beautiful image of the garden

feat for so late in the spring. To me, they represented the needs of both humans and wildlife - the blossom for bees, the fruit for us and the birds, and the bark and leaves for a myriad of moths and beetles as well as the species that eat them.If all

of dead foliage makes it even better, as it attracts other creatures eaten by frogs, such as slugs, snails and beetles.Seemingly, my grow bag habitat is so good, the frogs still haven't emerged. They're awake now (I checked), and I can hear them thumping

piles, under sheds and in compost heaps. They breed from early to late-summer, giving birth to up to seven hoglets at a time, and feed on earthworms, beetles, caterpillars, and - happily for gardeners - slugs.I've never seen a hedgehog where I live