As the winter months draw to a close and spring beckons, March is the perfect time to take a look at how we can care for our garden wildlife, encouraging the birds and the bees to do their thing. Food will still be in short supply, so continuing to provide additional sources of nutrition for garden wildlife is even more important for the breeding season.
Feed the birds and hedgehogs
Insects, beetles and worms will still be underground until the warmer weather, so putting out a dish of cat or dog food for hungry hedgehogs, and calorie-rich fat balls for the birds, will go a long way to helping them build up fat reserves ready for breeding.
Preparation for the garden
After the first cut, lay out lawn clippings to dry in a quiet corner, then rake into a pile to encourage a queen bumblebee to start a hive. This is also a great way to entice slow-worms into the garden. Take a look at what’s in early flower and choose some more nectar-rich plants to encourage pollination – this will also give bees a helping hand through to the spring.
Preparation for the pond life
Breeding amphibians, including frogs, newts and toads, need plants to spawn and lay their eggs, so choosing marginal plants such as Brooklime and Water Forget-Me-Not, or submerged plants like Marsh Marigold will give them the best chance during the breeding season. To protect tadpoles from predators, add some curled pondweed and hornwort, which will also help with oxygenation.
