Can you believe we’re already halfway through the year? As we approach the summer
solstice at the end of the month - the longest day of the year - it’s worth pausing to think
about what this means for wildlife. Long summer days should provide some of the best
feeding conditions of the year, benefiting everything from birds and bumblebees to small
mammals and even reptiles.
If the cold evenings brought on by clear spring and early summer skies have you retreating
indoors, I have two programmes worth watching. The first is Secret Garden on BBC
iPlayer (https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002sthz/secret-garden), hosted by Sir
David Attenborough. The series offers a fascinating glimpse into the wildlife living right on
our doorsteps, highlighting simple, nature-friendly actions such as cutting grass selectively,
creating log piles for shelter, and recognising the important role gardens play in providing
food. I was however particularly struck by the number of people shown feeding wildlife,
especially in light of recent guidance from the RSPB.
You may have seen in the news, or heard through a friend, that the RSPB is now
advising people to stop feeding garden birds during the summer months. This is a
significant shift, particularly as many of the organisation’s most dedicated supporters are
also keen bird feeders. Feeding birds has long been a popular way for people to connect
with nature, but concerns around disease have prompted this advice. Species such as
greenfinches have been badly affected in recent years, and feeding stations can act as
hotspots for disease transmission. Even with regular cleaning, it’s difficult to prevent large
numbers of birds visiting a feeder from spreading infection. While the full report is still to be
published, the urgency of the message suggests this is not something the RSPB felt could
wait.
This doesn’t mean supplementary feeding never has a place, but it does highlight the
importance of getting the balance right. Habitat is ultimately the best solution - hedges
heavy with berries, flowers allowed to set seed, insect-rich soils full of worms and other
invertebrates. These natural food sources support wildlife without the added risk of
disease. So what small changes could you make nearby? Perhaps there’s a patch of grass
you could cut a little less often, a native shrub you could plant, or part of a vegetable patch
you could set aside for wildlife. It can be helpful to picture what your ideal local habitat
might look like and then take small, achievable steps towards it, sketch it out, or even
create a fun mood board/collage with samples of plants you’d like to encourage.
The second programme I’ve been enjoying is My Garden of a Thousand Bees, also on
BBC iPlayer (https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m002t686/my-garden-of-a-thousandbees).
I’ll happily stay on this soapbox, because it’s easy to forget that the UK is home to
around 270 different species of bee, and honeybees are just one of them. This
programme beautifully showcases the diversity of bees that can be supported in gardens,
often in places you might least expect.
June is a particularly good time to think about this, with National Insect Week coming up.
When imagining your ideal garden, whether real or purely aspirational, it’s worth planning
for insects too. Where could you add a bug hotel or leave some tussocky grass? Flowers
are an obvious choice, but less obvious (and just as important) are patches of bare soil for
species such as mining bees to nest in, ideally close to flowering plants. Even a small
pond can provide water for hoverflies and other insects.
Good luck creating your own little patch of nature paradise.
