Island Life Magazine Ltd October/November 2017 | Page 81
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Robust and evergreen, tenacious
and rambling, what begins as
downy, flexible stems creeping
steadily up and over nearly any
reasonably static surface can soon
become sturdy, woody trunks and
branches as the plant matures.
Specialist rooting hairs on the
stems of juvenile plants provide
the excellent clinging power that
allows ivy to climb up anything
from a tree to a brick wall – it
even clings to itself. The dense
foliage provides a safe haven from
predators and bad weather for
birds, insects and small mammals.
Birds often nest amongst the dark
leaves and bats creep into crevices
created by the overlapping stems
to roost during the day.
It is the food plant of caterpillars
of the beautiful holly blue
butterfly, the bold angle shades
moth, and the striking swallow-
tailed moth – all of which we have
seen in our garden. If you look
closely in amongst the ivy, you
may spot the caterpillars of the
swallow-tailed moth – but you’ll
have to have a keen eye: they look
exactly like a dry twig!
The flowers – which only appear
on mature plants – provide one
of the most important native
sources of nectar and pollen for
insects, not only because they
arrive at a time of year when other
sources are so scarce, but because
the nectar itself is much more
energy-rich than other flowers
produce. This provides a lifeline
for our beleaguered pollinators,
particularly bees, which rely on ivy
flowers in autumn to provide them
with the energy to survive the cold
winter months.
Walking past a mature, flowering
Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife
Trust, working for a better future for
wildlife and wild places in Hamp shire
and the Island.
Phone: 01489 774 400
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.hiwwt.org.uk
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife
Trust, Beechcroft House, Vicarage Lane,
Curdridge, Hampshire, SO32 2DP
stand of ivy provides a happy
assault on your ears as the clouds
of bees, wasps, hoverflies and other
flying insects create not so much a
hum as a roar. And there’s a good
chance here in Wiltshire that many
of the bees you see on ivy will be
those of its namesake – the ivy bee;
a recent visitor to our shores but
one which looks set to stay, and an
important pollinator of ivy.
Looking ahead as we move into
November, more visual interest
arrives as berries swell and ripen
to blue-black. These will be largely
untouched until winter as the birds
make the most of the autumn
bounty of other berries such as
rowan and hawthorn. But when
they do move onto ivy berries they
Country life
Photo: Ivy by Scott Petrek
couldn’t pick a more nutritiously
important, naturally available
treat – recent research found that
ivy berries contain almost as many
calories as Mars bars! The high fat
content of the berries is perfect
for fattening up to prepare for the
cold of winter.
From a symbol of intellectual
achievement in ancient Rome to
a talisman against evil spirits in
the home; an attractive natural
screen to a year-round haven for
wildlife, ivy truly is a plant for all
seasons. By growing or keeping
ivy in your garden, even just a
small area, you will be playing your
part in creating a living landscape
through which wildlife can move
and thrive alongside us.
Join us today and enjoy the benefits of being a member of
the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust:
• Unlimited visits to 57 wildlife reserves in Hampshire and the Isle
of Wight and 2,500 reserves nationwide.
• A welcome pack when you join.
• Wildlife, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust’s magazine,
delivered to you three times a year.
• The chance to take part in local group and community activities,
offering you a variety of opportunities to be involved in. More than
350 walks, talks and events throughout the two counties.
• Join by Direct Debit & receive your FREE full colour Local Wildlife
Reserve Guide.
www.visitilife.com
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