Take part in the world’s largest wildlife survey

This weekend Saturday 26^th and Sunday 27^th January is the RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch it is the world’s largest wildlife survey, and is free and open to everyone to join in – families, individuals and schools.

To take part all you need to do is to watch the birds in your garden for one hour and record the highest number of birds of each species that you see at any one time, don’t count the total that you see during the hour as you may be including the same birds that have visited more than once, only include birds that actually land in your garden not the ones that fly over.

Jupiter Peanut Feeder

Get prepared now by putting out lots of different types of bird food to encourage as many birds as you can, the more choice you provide the more species you may attract, don’t forget to put out some fresh water too.

Giant Fat Ball and Feeder

Have a look at the RSPB’s website for lots more information and also an identification chart for the birds that you may see in your garden, with the weather being cold you may attract some unusual birds that have come looking for food.

Hanging Square Bird Table

We will be taking part, we usually do a survey at home and one at my parents house, their house backs on to open fields and they have different birds visiting their garden.

Don’t forget to continue putting out bird food after the survey, the birds really do need our help.

Have fun!

Gill

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Look after our feathered friends during the cold weather

Winter is finally here with sub-zero temperatures and a covering of snow in many parts with yet more forecast. The fall in temperatures will come as quite a shock to our wildlife they have endured a relatively mild winter up to now, but we as a nation of wildlife lovers can really help. The birds in our garden are struggling to find any food as their natural food sources are depleted or frozen in the ground, fresh unfrozen water too will be hard to find, High Calorie/Energy foods with a High Fat Content are the most beneficial to put out for the birds :

Seed Mixes are prepared using top quality high calorie ingredients and have been developed to appeal to, and benefit a wide variety of bird species all year round and include High Energy Bird Mix, Bird Feeder Seed, Table Seed Mix, Gourmet Robin Food as well as Nyjer Seed and Sunflower Heart Seeds.

Table Seed Mix

High Fat content Bird Foods are also high in calories and include Peanut Cakes, Fat Balls, Fat filled Coconuts, Peanut Cake Bells and Suet Pellets with Insects and are excellent winter food.

High calorie Peanut Cakes

Live Mealworms are a natural food and relished by Robins, Blue Tits and other insect eating birds and should be provided when fresh.

Live Mealworms are loved by Blue Tits

Clean water is important for the birds both for drinking and also bathing this is essential to keep their feathers in good condition. To prevent the water from freezing add a lightweight ball which will move in the breeze or pour on hot water to melt the ice.

Ceramic Hanging Bird Bath / Water Dish

Have a look at our range of Bird Food, Bird Feeders, Bird Tables, Bird Baths and treat the birds in your garden.

Gill

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Congratulations to our November/December Competition winners

Thank you to everyone who sent in an entry to our November / December 2012 competitions, they were all amazing and just shows how much creative talent there is, but it made choosing the winners all the more difficult.

Winning Entry by Isobel Stevens

The winner for the Family Competition was Isobel Stevens from Barry, South Glamorgan, ‘Well Done Isobel!’  Isobel has drawn a wonderful winter scene showing a Robin perched in a tree in a snowy garden complete with spade (which Robins often sit on) and a welcome bird feeder, she will receive as her prize:

• a Discovery Seed Feeder
• a Discovery Window Seed Feeder
• a bag of Table Seed Mix (6 litre)
• a whole fat filled Coconut Feeder
• a Peanut Cake Bell 

Winning Entry by Ineasa, Newton Regis School

The winner of the School Competition is Newton Regis School with the winning entry by Ineasa, ‘Well Done Ineasa’ we loved her Robin collage, it looks fabulous and would make a lovely Christmas card, it must have taken quite a long time to find, cut out and stick on all the pictures of the Robins, they will receive as their prize:

• a Square Ground Bird Table
• a Discovery Seed Feeder
• a Discovery Window Seed Feeder
• a bag of Table Seed Mix (6 litre)
• a bag of Bird feeder Seed (6 litre)

We hope that our winners enjoy these fantastic prizes and that they attract lots of birds into their gardens.

Gill

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Congratulations to our September/October Competition winners

The September/October School Zone Competition was to find 10 Hedgehog related words in our Hedgehog Wordsearch, the first correct winning entry pulled out of the hat was by Alex Courtman from Dane Ghyll County Primary School, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria and their fabulous prize is a Hogitat Hedgehog House, a Hedgehog Guide, a Hedgehog Snack Feeding Bowl and some Hedgehog Food – well done to them.

The September/October Family/Kids Zone Competition was a ‘Who am I? Wildlife Quiz’ the correct answers were  Q1 Ladybird,  Q2 Dragonfly,  Q3 Butterfly,  Q4 Toad,  Q5 Moth,  Q6 Hedgehog,  Q7 Bee,  Q8 Spider,  Q9 Bat,  Q10 Frog.

The first correct entry to be pulled out of the hat was from Taylor and Holly Rees from Gosport, Hampshire and they will receive a Mini Bug Bug Box, a Mini Bug Ladybird Tower and a Minibeast Guide – well done to them.

Thank you to everyone who entered these competitions, why not have a go at our

New Christmas Competitions

To enter our School Zone Competition all you need to do is to design a Christmas Card featuring a ‘Christmas’ Robin, it can be painted, crayoned, drawn in pencil/coloured pencil or could even be a collage. Our favourite card will win

• a Square Ground Bird Table
• a Discovery Seed Feeder
• a Discovery Window Seed Feeder
• a bag of Table Seed Mix (6 litre)
• a bag of Bird feeder Seed (6 litre)

To enter our Family/ Kids Zone Competition all you need to do is to send in a picture of a Christmas Robin that you have drawn, it can be painted, crayoned, drawn in pencil/coloured pencil or could even be a collage and our favourite picture will win

• a Discovery Seed Feeder
• a Discovery Window Seed Feeder
• a bag of Table Seed Mix (6 litre)
• a whole fat filled Coconut Feeder
• a Peanut Cake Bell

Have a look at the competitions pages for full details and an entry form, the closing date for both competitions is 31^st December 2012.

Good Luck

Gill

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Harvest and dry your own Sunflower Seeds and make a Bug House with their Stems

Hopefully by now, if the weather has been kind where you live, your Sunflowers will have flowered and developed into rings of nice fat seeds.

As you can see mine have grown well but some of them are yet to flower, I hope that this spell of sunny weather will encourage them to flower and set their seeds.

The varieties I have grown this year are Titan and Russian Giant as they have large heads and hopefully plenty of seeds for the birds.

I love Sunflowers, I grow them for their stunning flowers, which benefit the bees and insects, and their seeds, which I save for the birds, if you want to save some of your seeds for the birds or to grow next year here’s what you need to do.

1. When the backs of the Sunflower heads turn yellow cut them off leaving about 30cm of stem attached and hang them upside down somewhere warm, dry and well ventilated (to prevent them going mouldy).
2. Tie a brown paper bag around the Sunflower heads to catch any seeds that drop out.
3. Once the backs of the Sunflower heads have turned brown and dry your Sunflower seeds are ready to harvest, they should pop out when you run your hands over the heads.
4. Lay the seeds out on newspaper to completely dry out and to remove any flower heads/leaves then store the seeds in a cool dry place in an airtight container.

A Sunflower head that has finished flowering

Make a Bug House with your Sunflower stems

After you have cut the heads off the plants, the remaining stems can go into the Compost Bin or instead if they are hollow why not use them to make an Bug House. Cut the stems into 10 – 15cm lengths and squeeze them into a washed large pop bottle which has had the top cut off (ask an adult to do this), apply tape around the rough cut edge for safety, place at an angle with the open end slightly pointing downwards in a sheltered, dry and shady spot in your garden, this will make an great Bug House for over wintering insects.

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Rays of Sunshine bring hope to our wet wildlife

The prolonged wet weather that we have endured over the last few months has had a devastating affect on our wildlife says the National Trust, Birds, Bats, Butterflies and Bees have all been affected.

Pembroke Nest Box

Birds have struggled to find food for themselves and their young, caterpillars and insects have literally been washed away, we can help birds now by giving them protein rich foods such as live mealworms and putting up nest boxes for shelter.

Double Chamber Wooden Bat Box

Bats have been affected due to the lack of insects on the wing, although we cannot provide a substitute food source we can provide somewhere warm and dry for them to roost and breed by putting up a Bat Box (or two).

Sedum

Butterflies and Bees have suffered as they cannot go foraging for nectar rich flowers in heavy rain and even the flowers that they found were full of water. Bee Keepers and farmers are warning of honey shortages and reduced fruit crops. We can help them by planting nectar rich flowers in the garden such as Buddleia, Scabious, Sedum, Catmint and Lavender, if you have not got a flower border consider growing these plants amongst your vegetables or in containers and window boxes.

Butterfly/Bee Nectar Feeding Station

Why not put up a Butterfly/Bee Nectar feeding Station or a Butterfly and Moth Feeder to provide some instant food, as well as a Bee Hive or Bee Log for shelter and breeding. Have a look here for more advice on attracting butterflies to your garden.

Frogitat Ceramic Frog and Toad House

Frogs and Hedgehogs have actually benefited during the wet weather, they have had a plentiful supply of food including worms, slugs, snails and the insects that have been washed to the ground. It is worth looking after these true gardener’s friends during the winter months by putting a Frogitat or a Hogitat in a quiet, wild corner of your garden.

The Hogitat Hedgehog House

Lets hope that the change in the weather and the new position of the Gulf Stream remains throughout the summer, as we and our wildlife so desperately need some sustained sunshine.

Whilst it’s here let’s get out and enjoy it.

Gill

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School Jubilee Tree planting and holiday preparations for the school garden

Last week the Eco Committee members at Thomas’s School were invited by the Parish Council, in co-operation with the Borough Council, to plant a tree as a final act in the local Jubilee celebrations. The tree, an English Oak, was planted in open space land in the village so that it can be enjoyed by future generations and there will be a plaque put next to it to commemorate the Queens Diamond Jubilee. The children (including Thomas) put the top soil around the tree and sprinkled wildflower seeds around the base.

Thomas and the Jubilee Tree

Thomas has been on the Eco Committee this year and has thoroughly enjoyed being involved in the Eco work at school as well as providing his own input with regards to the wildlife that is in the school grounds. The School has put up bird boxes one of which has a camera, a bird table for feeding the birds, a nesting material holder, fat ball feeders and other bird feeders as well as insect houses.

Pembroke Nest Box

The school gardening year has come to an end and preparations have been made for the summer holidays. All the young plants in pots have been planted in the ground, climbing plants have been tied in and supports provided, and the raised beds have been weeded and covered with netting to deter unwanted visitors.

Enviromesh Netting

During the holidays Thomas and I will make regular checks to keep the garden ticking over until September this ties in well with feeding the school chickens as Thomas has been put on the ‘chicken rota’ again which I have to say I enjoy doing as much as he does. We are both looking forward to those super fresh boiled eggs!

Click here for our top 10 tips for caring for the school garden during the holidays.

Love your environment and enjoy your holidays

Gill

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Noisy garden visitors and ‘May Bug’ Invasion

At the moment our back garden is not very tranquil we have approximately 16 young Starlings and their parents visiting throughout the day, I can’t believe how much noise they make. They are very demanding and very naïve as are most of the birds that are newly fledged from nests or bird boxes. It is a very critical time for birds and their chicks, this warm weather really helps as it brings with it new hatchings of insects and caterpillars, perfect food for young birds, but a cold and wet spell can really affect the young and parent bird’s survival.

Starling Nest Box

I put bird food out every morning on the lawn and on the bird table, I am sure they must watch me through the kitchen window, waiting for me to come out, they are all very hungry, as soon as I’ve turned my back they are tucking in. The young Starlings (which look bigger than their parents) make me laugh they sit on the lawn surrounded by food and wait for their parents to feed them, which they dutifully do. The young birds are fascinated by the pond they keep climbing on the metal grid that we have over it, wobbling and falling in, they manage to get out quite easily though. The pond provides water for drinking and bathing which is very important especially during the warm weather if you haven’t a pond consider putting out a bird bath/water dish.

Provide water for the birds

In the evening, and a moment of calm after the birds had gone to bed, we were sat out in the garden when some large insects flew over they were ‘May Bugs’ also called Cockchafer Beetles or Melolontha melolontha. They are not a true bug but a large beetle and the largest species of Chafer Beetle in the UK. They are more commonly found in the South and appear on warm evenings from May to July, and are attracted to artificial light often coming indoors through open windows. ‘May Bugs’ may look a bit scary but they are harmless to humans. They are about 3cm in length with short feelers on their black head and a hairy body, with non hairy reddish-brown wing cases. The complete life-cycle from egg to adult takes about 3-4 years.

The grubs are considered a pest feeding underground on roots and they can destroy pastures and crops, you may have come across some of the grubs whilst digging, I have on my allotment and they are pretty horrible to look at. The grubs are ‘C’ shaped, have six legs and are white with reddish-brown heads, they hatch from eggs in about 5-6 weeks and can grow to 4 cm they will live for 3 years and then turn into a pupae and remain underground over winter to emerge as adult beetles the next year. The beetles only live for about a month but will mate and lay their eggs underground on roots before they die. The grubs are favourite food for Rooks, Crows and Gulls and the beetles are eaten by Owls and Bats.

Keep looking out for ’May Bugs’ we found this one on the road; it was probably hit by a car.

May Bug

Love your Environment  (not sure about the ‘May Bug’ grubs!)

Gill

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Fishing for Ladybirds and Rare Bird Watching

Over the Bank Holiday weekend we managed to get away in the caravan to Bolton-le-Sands. We took the Bird Feeders with us but unfortunately we were pitched in the centre of a field away from trees and hedges. The weather was glorious sunny days and cold nights with a hard frost on Friday and Saturday night reminding us that although we are in May we still need to be vigilant and protect any tender plants or blossoms with Fleece and Cloches. We had a walk on the coast which was grassy salt marsh with saltwater pools and mudflats which are teaming with food for birds this makes it the most important estuary in Britain for its seabird and waterfowl populations and attracts the third largest number of wintering wildfowl in Britain. Morecambe Bay is unique and is a designated Special Site of Scientific Interest (SSSI), a Wetland of International Importance and a designated European Marine Site (Ems).

The Rockpool Guide

We took our fishing nets, a couple of buckets and our Rockpool Guide (a very handy, waterproof 6 page leaflet which makes identifying Shells, Anemones, Seaweed, Crabs etc. very easy) we caught a few crabs, some Brown shrimps and some tiny fish in the pools. The tide was on its way in so we went to the waters edge and started fishing again but this time we were catching Ladybirds! Floating on the surface of the water there were hundreds of Ladybirds amongst the seaweed and debris, they must have been on the grassy salt marsh and got caught by the incoming tide. We rescued as many as we could but soon realised that they would probably be alright as the tide does comes in twice a day, everyday, but we had fun!

Fishing for Ladybirds

Rescued Ladybirds

Next stop was the RSPB’s Nature Reserve at Leighton Moss it’s the largest reedbed in the north-west and a haven for many species of birds and is my son Thomas’s favourite place. We went well prepared with a pencil, wildlife diary, binoculars and our Guide to Wetland Birds (a 12 page guide featuring 49 common wetland birds) which was invaluable and we managed to spot most of the birds on it. One species of bird that we saw which wasn’t on the guide was an Osprey and we were lucky to see not one but three, one of which was carrying a fish in its claws, another rare visitor we spotted was a Glossy Ibis a dark brown long-legged wading bird more commonly found in Southern Europe these were the highlight of the day and the weekend.

Guide to Wetland Birds

When I get back to the office I shall have to invest in a Guide to Ladybirds of the British Isles so that we can identify which one of the 46 Ladybird species found in the British Isles we rescued and have a look at the other Wildlife Guides that we stock too, they are very child friendly and easy to use with lovely illustrations, making them perfect for every little wildlife enthusiast.

Guide to Ladybirds of the British Isles

So get out there wildlife spotting you don’t need to be in a nature reserve to find something unusual they could be just around the corner or even in your back garden.

Enjoy your environment

Gill

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Feed the birds on holiday and visit a Bluebell Wood

I hope that you have all had a lovely Easter. Over the holidays we managed to get away in the caravan to Silverdale and had a great time although it was a little bit chilly but the cold weather didn’t seem to put off the wildlife.

The Adventurer Feeder

When we go on holiday we always take with us a couple of Bird Feeders (one for Seed or Sunflower Hearts and one for Peanuts) to put up near the caravan. This is something that anyone could do and you can often attract different species that you wouldn’t get in your garden. Within half an hour we had Blue Tits, Coal Tits, Great Tits, and Robins and were thrilled when a couple of Marsh Tits and Jays arrived later on.

A hungry Pheasant

The fallen seeds on the ground attracted Blackbirds, Jackdaws, Magpies and Pheasants, it was not just the birds that were hungry, Grey Squirrels were regular visitors and their acrobatics were very funny to watch but they did tend to monopolise the feeders, and had started to chew them, we shall have to invest in some Squirrel Proof Bird Feeders for our next holiday.

Whether you are at home or on holiday keep feeding the birds, they need your help throughout the year not just during winter.

Small Guardian Seed Feeder

On one of our woodland walks we were privileged to see a couple of Roe Deer (a female and her year old fawn) later we came across a lovely sunny bank carpeted with our native Bluebell, they were stunning and their sweet perfume was delightful. If you get the opportunity go for a walk in your local woods and witness this spectacular sight, as well doing a bit of bird/wildlife spotting (take your Nature Diary with you). You can find out where your nearest Bluebell Wood is by visiting The Woodlands Trust website, here you can also register your local Bluebell Wood so that other people may visit it too.

A stunning Bluebell Wood

So get out there and enjoy your environment.

Gill

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