Country and Coast: Go wild in the garden and get close to nature

People said this had not been a good year for the butterflies but my garden has been full of them. I did a "head count" and had small white, large white, comma, painted lady, peacock (in abundance), red admiral, small tortoiseshell, hedge brown, meadow brown, small copper and speckled wood.

I had green-veined white, orange tip, wall brown and small heath earlier in the year, I reckon that's not a bad list with 15 species recorded so far in 2010. Two species and four varieties of buddleia, plus lavenders, lots of marjoram with the ordinary and the golden-leaved variety, various thymes, tall hemp nettle in the marsh garden, and red valerian on dry walls, all seem to be doing the trick.

Trees and vertical surfaces have their positive impacts maximised by masses of vigorous honeysuckle – provider of nectar and a heady fragrance plus late summer berries. Migrating blackcaps and garden warblers just love this free feast as they fuel up for the long haul.

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The flowers are irresistible to a host of insects but especially the hoverflies, bumblebees, solitary bees, and even the now rare honey bees. (I suspect a local bee keeper has parked a hive nearby rather than these being the genuine wild article). So as my garden hums with insect life and the birds feast, I think what a difference our Yorkshire gardens could make to the county's wildlife if we all pulled together.

With nature under pressure and countless species on the brink as we have been hearing in recent weeks, this is something we can all do and it's neither difficult nor expensive. So in towns, cities, and in villages and the countryside, we can change the world for the better.

Wildlife gardening is not just for nature but for people as well. Careful design, planning, and management will bring you close to nature. You can have blue tits and goldfinches on your kitchen window, and nuthatches and woodpeckers within a few metres. With a garden pond, along with frogs, toads and newts, you can be eyeball to eyeball with a big dragonfly or a delicate damsel.

Professor Ian D. Rotherham is a researcher, writer and broadcaster.

CW 18/9/10

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