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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

This week I learned that there is little point in making a Christmas wreath unless you have a bright red front door to hang it on. Or any front door at all, really (both entrances to my flat are PVC French doors, which make the positioning of a

Birds not only use water to drink, but they also bathe in it, helping them fluff up their feathers to insulate themselves against the cold. Experts have also found that clean birds are more streamlined, so can escape from predators quickly. Our bird bath is elevated, which will o...

. At this time of year, I make sure the bird tables and feeders around the garden are always well stocked. Although peanuts have rocketed in price recently, they’re so popular with my local birds that we bought a whole sack of them a couple of months ago. I put

Thank heavens for winter-flowering plants. These hardy specimens often have tiny, inconsequential blooms, but they more than make up for them with their powerful, sweet fragrance. I rarely notice the flowers of Sarcococca hookeriana, but I’m always

Where you place a new greenhouse or polytunnel can make the difference between growing success and failure, so it’s important to get it right. With careful siting, it should be possible to optimise the productivity of your structure, which helps

cement in your foundation tubes. Mark the base positions, making sure they are evenly-spaced and check all the angles are square. Then drive the foundation tubes into the ground, hammering onto a wooden block to avoid damaging them.Install foundations

and often.When crops fail, it's usually for one of three reasons: because they've been smothered by weeds; they've gone short of water and feed (which makes them tough, stunted or run to seed); or been infested by pests or disease.The big mistake that many

over the hedgehog to make it feel secure. Offer your orphan some water and meat-based dog or cat food (not bread and milk, as this can make them ill). If the hedgehog doesn’t take the food or is injured, call the British Hedgehog Preservation Society

Growing vegetables from seed can make a limited budget go a long way. Some crops, such as maincrop potatoes and onions are fairly cheap to buy in shops, so growing your own might not save you a lot of money. But runner bean, cherry tomato