FLOWERS

Flowers make up perhaps the most important part of our garden,providing nectar and pollen for many insects,bees,butterflies and moths.Seed heads are left to ripen,providing winter food for birds, while looking very pretty when covered in frost!
Where possible i choose native species for my garden,as non-native species may have little or no value to wildlife.Along the same lines,it is worth noting that many cultivated varieties,such as those found in conventional nurseries,may produce less nectar than their wild counterparts.This is an important consideration,if you are trying to attract lots of butterflies,for example.

		Choosing plants carefully can give colour throughout the year		At the height of summer,my garden is a hive of activity.

My garden wouldn`t win any awards for design,but the wildlife that it attracts suggests that things are certainly beginning to take shape.The garden didn`t magically transform overnight,but all of the hard work has been well worthwhile

Climbing plants like Clematis(left),Honeysuckle and Ivy can add interest to bare walls and fences,while providing cover for nesting birds,and nectar for insects and butterflies.

Plants such as Foxglove(right),Wood Avens,Celandine and Ramsons,are good plants for a problem shady area

As we move towards Spring,my thoughts turn to Wildflowers,and how i can make my garden more appealing to wildlife. I will be looking more carefully at the conditions in my garden this year:soil type,aspect,drainage etc, to maximise success when i plant new species.

Plants for your wildlife garden.

The wildflowers / plants listed below are just a suggestion. A longer list can be found in the Natural England publication 'Plants for wildlife-friendly gardens', which can be requested through their website - it doesn't appear to be available for download at the moment. Natural England also have a useful publication called 'Wildlife-friendly gardening - A general guide' which can be downloaded from their website. You may be able to tailor your plantings to match local habitats such as chalk or acid grassland. For guidance on how to establish your wildflowers, please see the booklet 'Nature in your Neighbourhood'. Names in brackets are Latin names.

Wildflowers for Shady Areas

Shady areas such as those under trees can be planted up with wildflowers usually found in woodland. Here are suggestions for suitable plants: Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scriptus). Ensure that you use the native species and not the Spanish bluebell.
Bugle (Ajuga reptans)
Ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea)
Primrose (Primula vulgaris)
Betony (Stachys officinalis)
Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis)
Yellow archangel (Galeobdolon inteum)

Wildflowers for Open Areas

There are many wildflowers that can be planted in open areas that are going to be managed as meadows. Here is a selection:
Field scabious (Knautica arvensis)
Cowslip (Primula veris)
Germander speedwell (Veronica chameadrys)
Common knapweed (Centaurea nigra)
Greater knapweed (Centaurea scabiosa)
Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum)
Meadow cranesbill (Geranium pratense)
Oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare)
Red campion (Silene dioica)
White campion (Silene alba)
Yellow rattle (Rhinanthus minor)
Self heal (Prunella vulgaris)
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Wild carrot (Daucus carota)
Black medick (Medicago lupulina)
Ragged robin (Lychnis flos-cuculi). Prefers wetter areas.

Climbing Plants

Climbing plants that can grow up walls or fences and are good for wildlife incude:
Honeysuckle (Lonicera periclymenum)
Clematis (Clematis montana) or (Clematis vitalba)
2008.