insideKENT Magazine Issue 42 - September 2015 | Page 115

There are still many butterflies about in
September, and you may spot the small
tortoiseshell, peacock or the speckled wood
butterfly (in wooded areas).
Hedges, including non-natives and conifers,
are a good resource for wildlife, providing shelter,
nesting sites and food. Deciduous trees,
particularly natives like oak or coppiced hazel,
are excellent choices. Some insects that happily
feed from a variety of plants are more selective
about their breeding territory, and show a
preference for native plants. Deciduous trees
additionally support much more plant life
underneath them, with bulbs, annuals and
perennials thriving in the dappled shade. This is
not the case underneath dense conifers.
Be less frequent with your hedge trimming
to provide greater shelter and food for wildlife.
Don’t deadhead roses that produce hips; the
colourful hips are decorative and a useful source
of food for wildlife.
Wait for the seed heads of wild flowers and
insect-attracting blooms to ripen (usually when
they start to shed seed naturally), then pluck off
the heads and shake them over a chosen area
of bare soil where you would like to have wild
flowers next year. Many flowers – poppies for
example – take easily from this kind of casual
sowing.

CROSS

WILD ABOUT GARDENS
Wild About Gardens is a joint project of
the Royal Horticultural Society and The
Wildlife Trusts. It aims to encourage and
inspire people to take action for wildlife in
their gardens.
Since its launch in 2005, Wild About
Gardens has enhanced understanding of local
wildlife character, celebrated what garden
owners are doing to support wildlife, and
acted in partnership with other organisations
to build on research into the wildlife potential
of domestic gardens.
Wild About Gardens Week takes place
this year from 26th October to 1st
November 2015, with a focus on hedgehogs'
neighbourhood needs. For more
information, visit
www.wildaboutgardens.org.uk.

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