Matt Baker
THE COUNTRYFILE PRESENTER GOES BEHIND THE SCENES ON HIS SHOWS AND FAMILY FARM
MAKING SPACE FOR WILDLIFE ON THE FARM
“There’s plenty we can all do to encourage wildlife into whatever outside space we have, whether it’s planting to make your garden as attractive as possible to wildlife, leaving an area to go wild, or putting out a window box.
On our land, we have always farmed with wildlife in mind. As the farm is organic, we cut our hay later to make sure ground nesting birds have fledged, and the flower meadows are rich with grasses, herbs and flowers that the insects love. We have plenty of hedgerows that provide berries for the birds throughout the year, with a habitat to nest in, and areas that are a little more ‘rugged’.
“ The flower meadows are rich with grasses, herbs and flowers that insects love”
In our garden in the Chilterns we created a pond, which has been a huge hit with wildlife. The birds use it to bathe and drink; we have frogs, dragonflies and even a fox that occasionally drinks there, too. There’s always something more you can do to add to what you have got. We sowed wildflower seeds around the pond last year and the flowers increased insect numbers dramatically. There were already a lot but it was teaming with life around the pond, so this is something we’re going to continue this year. We have added log piles, hibernaculums and the kids have put up butterfly boxes and various bird boxes everywhere.
FOOD FOR ALL
We have also been thinking about what we’re planting, to try and provide as many flowers and sources of food for wildlife as possible year-round. Putting different plants in to extend what’s available will keep wildlife coming back to your patch when pickings are lean elsewhere.
Over the years, family have given us hedgehog houses, frog shelters, bug hotels and so on for birthdays and Christmas and there is always a bit of excitement when they are in use. Whatever wildlife you want to attract, there is advice out there to help you. It’s all a balance. We like having ‘zones’ in the garden. Somewhere nice to sit with a glass of wine in the evening, an old pile of logs for the insects elsewhere, a wild patch of grass, and somewhere for the kids to kick a ball.
If you are lucky enough to have a garden, splitting it means everyone can enjoy it – humans and wildlife. Kids can play in their area without disturbing the hedgehog family, and birds are encouraged to sit somewhere other than your garden furniture, so you don’t have to clear up bird poo before you sit down. Bringing wildlife into your garden is wonderful and it’s very possible to live in harmony together by making the most of a garden space.”
•For more wild gardening, see here
Watch Matt on Countryfile, Sunday nights on BBC One.