Have you ever tried wild garlic? Often found in ancient and mature woodland, wild garlic can be hard to miss. You might notice the smell first and then, perhaps among the bluebells, you might see a carpet of broad leaved plants on the forest floor. The leaves are best picked when young and fresh (before it flowers) and are perfect [...]
As Spring gets underway you may be aware of more and more birdsong outside. This great Bird Song Identifier from The Woodland Trust will help you identify which garden birds you can hear.
Leave some ivy as shelter for hibernating insects. Leave swept up leaves and leaf mould in piles in the corners of your garden – these will provide ideal habitats for hedgehogs, small mammals, amphibians and insects in the colder weather. Avoid turning compost as there may be creatures sheltering under it.
Keep bird feeders and bird tables topped up and check bird baths daily to make sure there is a good supply of clean water and that it has not frozen. It’s a good idea to place a few small stones in the water as an escape route for animals and insects that find themselves unexpectedly in the water and [...]
The ground may be too hard to work at the moment, but if you are preparing any soil in the garden look out for queen bees. They can sometimes be found in the soil and if you do unearth one don’t rebury it. Gently find something to slip underneath it, like a thin piece of card and use it [...]
Follow a routine If you’re put into a stricter lockdown, it’s important to create a routine to give your day structure. Try to get up and go to bed at the same time every day, aiming for seven to nine hours of sleep per night. If you’re working from home, make sure you schedule in lunch breaks, and time [...]
At this time of year we get mixed weather but often the skies are clear at night. The stars and the moon and sometimes some of the planets can be seen in the night sky if no clouds are obscuring them. Have you ever thought of having a look to see what you can see on one of these [...]
Thinking Ahead to your Spring Time Garden Now is the time of year to be thinking about how you want your garden to look like in the Spring. There are ideas about seeds, trees, shrubs on gardening websites and in magazines and books. There are a lot of local allotment and gardening groups with websites. For example the Aylesbury [...]
Lavendar Bags This time of year if you have any lavender in your garden it can be cut back. Cut at the base of each stem. The flowers can be taken off the stems and used to make a lavender bag or put in an open dish to scent the room.. This could be given as a present to [...]
Take the Help Offered Whilst we are locking ourselves away from others, remember it doesn’t mean that you are alone. When others offer to help with something you are unable to due to restrictions, take it. When they ask what they can do, tell them. Evidence shows that by them helping you it is actually beneficial for their own [...]
