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! 

6 things that will make you love nature

Now that it's 2014, I am convinced it's the year to start loving nature! Here are 6 tips to inspire the nature lover in you! 

 

1. Borrow or make a plankton net, go plankton hunting, then look at it under a microscope! I promise it will blow your mind! 

 2. Investigate your local nature reserve and go for an explore! 

3. Go rock pooling and take a species guide! You'll be amazed at what you can find at your nearest rocky shore.

4. Leave some bird food perched on a surface in your garden and see what appears to have a nibble.

5. Pull on your Wellington boots and go to visit the muddiest place you can find! Mud makes everything better. 

6. Put your coat on and get outside now! They're no such thing as bad weather, only innappropriate clothing! 

Lauren 

it's a new year

It's officially 2014! This year has been a whirlwind and has been pretty great! However 2014 is definatly the year to experience as much as possible! This year will be the year of getting outside as much as possible to enjoy the natural world! It has begun by enjoying a lovely walk at the beach today and here is a seriously pretty snap of sandbanks. 

Here's to the rest of 2014 being as beautiful as this! 

Lauren