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. And it's very common, occurring throughout the country in parks, gardens, meadows, woods and forests. It parasitizes a huge range of moth caterpillars, including common garden species like yellow underwing, Noctua pronuba, and lime hawkmoth, Mimas tiliae

of bumblebee rely on chalk grassland, hay meadows and other disappearing habitats that our gardens cannot provide for them.The problem for bees is that their favourite food plants are often considered to be 'weeds'. They don't go for highly bred double

the job, I noted a couple of honeybees foraging for nectar. I liked the HESCO garden, the centre of which was a canal lock (complete with leaky canal bursting through), and consisted of three areas: a floral meadow, woodland and wetland.I was impressed

scatologist perhaps? Looking for dung beetles is an oddly satisfying occupation, and I’ve spent many a happy hour working my way round a grazing meadow dissecting cow pats to see what goes on in this hidden world of natural by-product recycling.Horse dung

for July's issue of the magazine I wanted to see more of Britain's 59 species, so researched which ones I might see on a trip I was planning, to Dorset. There, I found meadow browns and a small copper in the field we camped in. Then, walking along

. In addition to trying again with a few delicate crocuses I've also planted an area with Fritillaria meleagris, the snake's head fritillary. I've always loved these bulbs, and have been lucky enough to find them growing naturally in meadows in some parts

the gardener, but is a desert for insects. So in front of the Bar we laid a strip of wildlife turf, which is enriched with dozens of wildflowers and nine different types of grass. We'll grow it long, then cut it, as we do the wildflower meadow, just twice a

them with essential sources of nectar and pollen. Native wildflowers, such as foxgloves, meadow cranesbill and teasel, are best. Gardeners can also encourage bumblebees to nest by leaving a patch of long grass or emptying compost bins less frequently

In common with many gardeners, I would like a bigger garden. The wish list for mine would include trees, a hedge, a mini-meadow, a shed I could stand in, and three ponds. Such is the craving that it invades my sleep – I wake and realise that, once

, such as lavender and viper’s bugloss. Then there are the trees and shrubs that have been too big to consider until now. And perhaps I’ll have room for a hedge or mini meadow (who am I kidding?).And then there’s the wildlife. Which species can I lure into my garden