Search - Articles

, and therefore a must for every garden.Designing your wildlife gardenWhen planting a nectar border or any selection of flowers to attract insects, think first of what's best for them and second, of what you want to look at. The two are not remotely exclusive

Late-summer nectarAs some insects are still out foraging in late-summer, it's a good idea to provide food for them with nectar-rich, late-flowering plants.Plants for beesIn late-summer, many plants have finished flowering, but bees, butterflies

Winter wildlifeMost garden wildlife hibernates over winter, as food is in short supply and freezing temperatures make life difficult. Learn how to help wild creatures through the cold winter months, below.In winter, wild animals and insects hunker

and algae.Water insectsNewts lay their eggs on pond plants. Good varieties to include are water forget-me-nots, watercress and reeds.NewtsMore on garden pondsHow to build a garden pond.Make a mini-pond.Top 10 pond plantsHow to maintain a Garden pond

Jekka McVicar's 10 companion plantsJekka McVicar's organic herb garden achieved a gold medal at the Chelsea Flower Show 2009. We caught up with her at the show to discover her top 10 herbs for growing as companion plants.Companion planting

Make a bee-lineGreat flowers start with pollination, and for that you need bees. Find out how to get the busiest garden insects to work for you.How to... make a bee hotelGardens are extremely important for bumblebees, and vice versa. Bees need

scented blooms from May-September.LavenderThe stinging nettle, Urtica dioica, is one of the most important native wildlife plants in the UK. It supports more than 40 species of insect, including larvae of the small tortoiseshell and peacock butterflies

speciesGrowing plants to attract beesPlanting nectar-rich plants to feed bees and other insectsFind out more about bumblebees with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust

feedAlthough aphids suck plants sap, stunting growth, they are also a vital source of food for many beneficial insects and birds. Aphids love nettles, which you can grow as 'sacrificial' plants, saving valuable ornamentals. (The aphids might stunt

, by July and August there are millions more hungry mouths to feed. For tits, finches and sparrows, garden feeding stations provide a real lifeline. And even for birds like robins, wrens, thrushes and blackbirds, availability of insects, fruits and berries