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We
thought that we were reasonably good at recycling things in
the garden until we read "Wild Garden" by Pam Lewis
(Countryman Feb 2006). Pam composts almost everything including
weeds with the exception of Mint, Docks and Nettles; these
she puts into her chicken run for the hens to peck and scratch.
Droppings from the henhouse are put back into the compost
heap, this has a high nitrogen content and helps to enrich
the decomposition of the heap. Woody, hedgerow, and
garden prunings are shredded to make a moisture retaining
wood mulch. Thorny hedge prunings are threaded back
into the hedge to provide the birds with extra protection
from predators when nesting. Stalky patches of her wild
flower meadow are gathered to provide nesting sites for ladybirds,
hover flies and solitary bees (all good for pollinating).
Leaf litter, unless on drive ways, is left to blackbirds to
search through; other leaves are put under hedge bottoms.
An occasional barrow load is added to the compost heap - that's
dedication for you.
Our two compost bins brought from the WBC have been working
well. One bin has hundreds of earth worms all doing their
stuff and kept content with regular feeds of peelings etc.
The other bin has leaf litter in but takes longer to break
down, now is the time to put all that lovely soil back into
the garden.
The warmer weather will soon be bringing out the insects,
ladybirds will start to lay eggs in May (weather permitting).
The eggs take about four days to hatch, a single larva which
moults about three times during this stage of its life,
will eat more than 300 aphids before it pupates.
There has been much debate as to whether one should carry
on feeding the garden birds peanuts during the spring. I personally
stop feeding these during May when the birds are nesting,
as the nuts are very indigestible to baby chicks and can choke
them. At this time of writing, March 10th
I am watching a green finch on the seed feeder.
I have had a request to repeat the recipe for the fat ball.
If you buy fat balls please remove them from the plastic net,
this has been known to cut birds tongues and a dead tit was
found hanging from it where its feet got caught and it couldn't
free its self. The plastic netting can be very dangerous -
instead, put a hole through the middle of the ball and thread
a string through the ball to hang the ball up; or put it into
a special metal container designed for them.
FAT BALL Much
cheaper than the shop supplied one; melt some suet in a microwave
for some 30 seconds, when it is melted add the seeds, breadcrumbs,
broken biscuits and cake crumbs, etc. Mix them well together
and put the mixture into yoghurt pots, polystyrene cups or
any suitable container that can be broken off away from the
ball. Put them in the fridge to set and once solid, peel off
the container; make a hole through the middle and thread string
through the hole so the ball can be hung up. I make these
as an occasional treat for the birds which is especially welcome
in the cold frosty weather.
Diana & Richard Terry
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