Summer is here...

Summer is here…

One of the great joys of living where we do is seeing the changes the seasons bring. By now all the trees are in leaf, hedgerows are full of nesting birds raising their young, swifts and swallows are flying overhead and flowers are in abundance. It is very easy to think it has always been like this and will always remain so but nature needs our help.

The warm weather is great but prolonged periods of dry weather can start to have an impact. One of the best things you can do to help our local wildlife is to have a source of water in the garden. Birds, mammals and insects all need to drink and some will use water to help make their nests. A pond is the best option but if not then a shallow dish with a few pebbles in is a good solution. The pebbles provide a resting place and way out of the dish for wildlife after they have finished. In the Community Orchard we have a small pond which started life as a big plastic tub and it has an escape ramp just in case a hedgehog falls in.

Shade and damp are important to many creatures and having a habitat pile can provide just those conditions. In the orchard we use our tree prunings and mown grass to create such piles for wildlife such as frogs and insects. These in turn will be the source for birds to find the grubs to feed their young. Having a patchwork of different habitats through the different seasons is one of the ways we manage the orchard for wildlife alongside growing trees for fruit.

There is lots of practical advice out there on how you can help wildlife in your garden during a dry spell. Here is just one example:

Feeding birds in your garden during a drought.

· Feeding bread, sultanas, dried meal worms soaked in water if they are feeding to young birds.

· Canned cat food or pouches. Soak an area of lawn for blackbirds, thrushes and starlings.

· Native trees like field maples are excellent as they produce large numbers of aphids which are very moist and succulent. Avoid spraying aphids as a wide range of garden birds rely on them to feed their young.

· You can dig over your compost to reveal worms and grubs, feeding live mealworms is one of the best foods for young and adult birds.  

If you would like to help us look after the orchard or help us with our projects around the village please do get in touch: 

secretary@ycv.org.uk