Wednesday 21 May 2014

creating a wildlife-friendly garden patch

It's May and I have been busy finishing my final weeks of university. As a lovely distraction, I have created a small wildlife friendly garden patch in my garden. Here is how I made it and a few tips on getting started on your own!! 
Firstly I filled up a raised bed with peat free compost from my local garden centre. 


I then selected the species that I wanted to grow in my patch! I did this by doing a little research into the plants and flowers that are favoured my bees, butterflies and other insects. I decided on... 
Lavender (Lavandula stoechas) 
May Night (Salvia)
Sweet Pea (Lathyrus odoratus)
Scabious (Scabiousa columbaria) 

I also got a simple wildflower seed mix from my local garden centre. 

I then starting planting! 

Firstly I planted my sweet peas at the back of my raised bed. 
I then intertwined four wooden poles to wrap my sweet peas around so that they can grip on tight and grow up the poles. 
I created four of these intertwined poles for my sweet peas as shown below. 
I then planted all of my plants along the middle stretch of my raised bed and sprinkled my wildflower mix at the front. Here is the result...


I have been watering daily and here is the result one month later...


It's blooming away in the sunshine! 

I have loved making mine and the insects are loving it! 

Sunday 4 May 2014

spring snaps

It's the beginning of April! I can't believe how quickly this year is going! Here are a few snaps from what I have been up to this March!


Taking a walk at a local nature reserve.

Overlooking Kimmeridge Bay.

Lulworth Cove on a beautiful summers day. 

A pheasant flying above the Lulworth Ranges.

The view of Kimmeridge through the Lulworth Ranges.


Bluebells!