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One of our cats sat motionless on the edge of the pond today, head drooped down almost touching the water as if he were asleep. But the occasional tic gave him away: he was watching newts. The bright sunshine lit up a corner of our triangular pond

high up on the trunk of an old tree at the edge of the clearing. It’s a nuthatch. From this distance its grey-blue plumage makes it look elegant and sleek, rather than the ‘plump’ suggested by all the birding guides. Maybe it’s just had a tough winter

I seem to have created the perfect habitat for my frogs. It's not a large garden, marsh or meadow, but a tatty grow bag from last year, screened by willow edging and topped with dead foliage. It's an absolute eyesore and I hate it, but to my frogs

in a tree or building away from predators, strong sunlight and wind. A north-east facing spot is best.1.5m x 15cm x 1.25cm piece of untreated, sawn timber20cm x 2.5cm nails, 3cm x 2.5cm self-tapping screwsDrill and 25mm, 28mm or 32mm wood drill bit (see

at first look unappealing and unattractive, they are nevertheless home to 12–14 per cent of all our red data book and nationally scarce insect species; that’s more than you find in ancient woodlands or on chalk downs.The reason they are so important

to the edges of the pond liner like miniature paper dragons.Since I had to replace the pond liner early in 2008 I have not seen any adults in my garden. I did dredge up a damsel larva one day, so I am hopeful they are still about despite the large number

In the October issue of Gardeners’ World magazine, I ask Richard Jones and James Alexander-Sinclair for their views on autumn tidying in relation to the harm it can cause overwintering wildlife. As their recent blogs demonstrate, they don't see eye

nest underground in old mouse or vole burrows - which this project mimics.Flowerpot, 20cm in diameterTube or piping, 30cm length x 1.8cm diameterChicken wireSlate or tileNesting materialall year round30 minutesSelect a generous amount of nesting

decision I feel. They inevitably end up tucked into the edges of the carpet around the skirting board, dry, dusty and very dead. They just haven't learned that central heating is all the rage nowadays. They come indoors to avoid the excess moisture and damp

I'm always looking to make my garden more appealing to wildlife, so I've been delighted by the number of peacock butterflies around this summer. My buddleja has put on a superb flower display that's lasted for weeks. If any shrub is going to provide