{"id":15029,"date":"2022-03-28T13:23:13","date_gmt":"2022-03-28T11:23:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.countryfile.com\/?p=110534"},"modified":"2022-03-28T13:44:15","modified_gmt":"2022-03-28T11:44:15","slug":"matt-baker-how-to-create-space-for-wildlife-in-your-garden","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbccountryfile\/rss_feed\/matt-baker-how-to-create-space-for-wildlife-in-your-garden\/","title":{"rendered":"Matt Baker: how to create space for wildlife in your garden"},"content":{"rendered":"

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By Matt Baker\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Monday, 28 March 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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There\u2019s plenty we can all do to encourage wildlife into whatever outside space we have. Whether it\u2019s leaving a wild area in your garden, planting to make your garden as attractive as possible to wildlife or putting out a window box.<\/p>\n

On our land we\u2019ve 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 and nuts for the birds throughout the year, with a habitat to nest in and areas that are a little more \u2018rugged\u2019.<\/p>\n

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On our farm in the Chilterns we created a pond<\/a>, 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\u2019s always something more you can do to add to what you\u2019ve 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\u2019re going to continue this year. We\u2019ve put in log piles, hibernaculums (underground shelters), and the kids have put up butterfly boxes and various bird boxes<\/a> everywhere.<\/p>\n

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