Locating Bird Boxes, Boggy Ground & Recycling a Willow!!..

Hello All,

With the current weather I have found myself posting a bit sooner than usual! This is good for the blog but generally means garden time has been very limited!...

Well it is good news for all you followers as firstly you get another input but even better is that I have actually managed to get out in the garden and do a few jobs at long last!!!! It hasn't been much but enough to at least feel like we are starting to look forward to this seasons garden again!

Firstly my 5yr old daughter recently asked me if she could plant some seeds, which as I'm sure you can imagine, I didn't need asking twice! We ventured out to the greenhouse to find that all the wet weather had left it rather dirty and covered in a horrible green algae! As you are all aware by now I use no chemicals in the garden at all so we set to work with simply soapy water, a sponge each and a hose! Between a good soaking and Choco our dog chasing a very 'lively' hose around the garden we got the job done but it delayed our sowing until the following morning!

Whilst busying ourselves cleaning it became very apparent that the ground under the arch onto the lawn was getting boggier and boggier every time we walked over it causing quite a muddy problem both outside and more importantly all over Mrs Higgy's nice clean floor (I blame the dog myself!!) This however couldn't go on so needed addressing ASAP (apparently!!)

 These two pictures were taken prior to cleaning the greenhouse and despite the two bags of grit that have been put down here the area become water logged as the lawn slopes down onto the patio at this point creating a natural 'water hole!' I'll let you use your imagination as to how it looked after my daughter and I & the dog spent a whole day trampling over this area with a hose running for part of it!!!...

To address this I dug out the area and set large rocks into the ground to create a step up from the patio, as below...

I have also set a row of rocks behind and filled the space under the arch with gravel to aid drainage. The rocks behind will be capped with pavers bringing it up level to the highest point of the lawn and creating a step up onto the lawn. I will lay some pavers or cobbles on top of the gravel to add a solid path through the arch which takes ALL foot traffic at this point of the garden.

This is as far as I have got with this little job but it was nice to get out and actually do some work again! I will of course show you the completed job in my next post hopefully. You will also be pleased to know that I have managed to source 'reclaimed' materials to finish this job which is always nice and the way that I like to work!

Talking of 'reclaimed' materials, my neighbours had a massive Willow Tree in their garden cut down a while ago and I managed to 'blag' all the logs and bark chippings for use in the garden (can't stand to see it all go to waste!) The chippings I will use for mulch and allow some to rot down but the logs will be used for another wildlife log pile in the garden and one in the field and for other landscaping jobs as required....

 So what about that for some 'free reclaimed' materials!!?

These logs give me lots of choice for log piles, edging as well as a dozen large rounds that I plan on using as stepping stones, giving another fun feature for my daughter and her friends to play on this summer!

The other really important job that I must highlight on here is of course the fixing up all of my bird boxes. I made these boxes a while ago and designed them to hopefully accommodate various species of bird...

 The box above I have situated in a shady area on the wall of the house. The hole has been kept small at 25mm in the hope of encouraging Blue Tit, Coal Tit or Marsh Tit all of who visit the garden. On this box you can also see that I use two metal eyes screwed into the lid and the box itself. I attach wire to these eyes to hold the lid tightly down. this is repeated on both sides of the every box making access easy for yourself but impossible for likely 'raiders' such as Squirrels!!

 This open fronted box has been designed for Blackbirds and I've located it on a fence amongst some overgrown Ivy close to where Blackbirds nested last year.

 This box has a large hole and is situated on the large old Oak Tree right at the bottom of the garden. I'm hoping that its quieter location will attract a larger species to nest such as Nuthatch or similar. 

I have included a aluminium face plate on this box as it is situated on a tree quite near a branch which could give easier access to the box for a squirrel or cat. This face plate will protect the hole and any would be chicks inside. 

 This final box has a 28mm hole for Great Tits and is situated on a trellis fence behind the greenhouse. It points exactly NORTH EAST which is the ultimate direction for any box to face! 

I have tried to face all my boxes as close to NORTH EAST as I can but obviously this can prove difficult depending where and what you mount them on. All of the boxes have been made with waterproof roofs using old pond liner and you can find details of how I make my bird boxes on my post from last year here...

http://higgysgardenproject.blogspot.co.uk/2012_11_01_archive.html

Finally lets look at my recent visitors, which I have to say have been extremely plentiful and very enjoyable recently!!...

Finches, Finches & more Finches!!....

 We have been absolutely inundated with finches this month with at times 100 or so in the garden and surrounding trees! They make a great noise and are fascinating to watch on the feeders like the Chaffinch & Brambling squabbling above! Below is a beautiful male Brambling. Bramblings overwinter here in Britain from countries such as Sibera & Scandinavia so are a rare and welcome sight on my feeders!

 Below is a male Greenfinch proving that my growing population of 'greenies' continues!

 The Siskin is a truly beautiful bird and bright yellow when viewed on your feeders. First time visitors to my garden this winter and generally arriving in amongst the large flocks of mixed finches. These lovely little finches tend to be winter visitors here in North Somerset.  

The Reed Bunting has to be one of my favourite visitors to the garden where they will stay on the feeders for quite a long time. They will visit all year but are mainly a winter visitor to the feeders. This year numbers have increased with four birds very often present on the bird table!

Yes of course where there is food!!....

You'll find Gulls and in my case a flock of 20+ Black Headed Gulls who drop in every day to see what's on offer!!...

Well that's about it for this time, it has however been great to actually have some proper news to share with you all again! Hopefully tomorrow it will stay dry for my day off and I'll get a chance to finish my steps and make a start on some log piles! 

For now I'll thank you all again for taking the time to read my blog and sending me your comments, please do keep them coming and pass on this blog to anyone else who might be mad enough to read my 'ramblings'...

Cheers

Higgy

Cutting a wild flower meadow, winter bird feeding & SNOW!...

Hello again,

Well what am I going to write about? Lots of time has past since my last post and the weather continues to frustrate us here making gardening on the soggy ground virtually impossible!

My wild flower meadow/lawn was in dire need of its Autumn cut but September came and went, the rain continued through October into November, then we were into December and more rain! On the rare occasion that we had more than a days break from the rain the local water level continued to rise and the garden got boggier & boggier!....

You will be pleased to know that I did eventually get the area cut but this was right at the end of December!! Now I know that this is much later than a wild flower area would normally be cut but with the current weather you never know it might just prove ideal!!!...

You can see in this picture that the wild flowers and grass have been strimmed right down to the earth!....

 Everything that you do in a wildlife garden has an effect on something, like the Green Woodpecker in the picture above who is now a daily visitor to the wild flower area, probing the bare patches of earth for ants! Gardening for wildlife really is fascinating and so rewarding!

So it was great getting a few dry days to finally get out and get at least that job done! However two days later this happened.....

 Yep, six inches of snow!! But what a magical transformation it gives the garden with great views across the snowy fields!....

 And of course the garden transforms into one giant playground for my 5yr old daughter who spent hours outside building a snowman and a snowdog! Snowball fights were enjoyed by the whole family including Choco our dog who loved catching the snow and running laps of the garden!...  

The thorough enjoyment that we all had messing about in the snow just ticks another box as far as 'family enjoyment' of the garden goes! Having this fantastic outside space is great at all times of the year and the snow gave us good reason to really enjoy being in the garden again!! This was a refreshing break after all the rain we have had!

Whilst the families enjoyment is great it is during these really cold spells that we must think about our visiting wildlife and in particular birds who find it impossible to find food on the frozen ground. 

My feed rate and style changes in prolonged cold spells with consideration given to what species are visiting and how they like to feed. This may sound strange but is extremely important especially as we have encouraged them to come to the garden in the first place. Letting up on the feed now would be letting down the birds and of course what the garden was actually designed for... wildlife!

So what do I do differently?...

Well not a massive amount but these few simple steps can make a massive difference to hungry birds... 

• Every morning the frozen water bowl is de-iced with hot water and this is repeated through the day as necessary. Even in really cold weather birds still need to drink and bath to keep their feathers in tip top condition!
• I start feeding meal worms as they are an instant energy boost for many species, however large numbers of Starlings seem to be the main takers this year! I tend to keep meal worms for the colder weather otherwise it becomes a bit expensive feeding them all year round!
• Step up the amount of seed. I also add a few extra sunflower hearts which the birds absolutely go mad for during the winter months. If this becomes a bit expensive mix them with whole black sunflower seeds that are a bit cheaper. My finch numbers really escalated this winter and during the snow & freezing weather they were eating two large feeder fulls of sunflower seeds/hearts a day!!
• I also throw some mixed seed and sultanas/raisins on top of the snowy ground for ground feeders such as Blackbirds and Dunnocks. My largest single Blackbird count was two short of twenty all feeding on this ground feed! Normally I wouldn't throw seed on the ground as I don't want to encourage rats but with these numbers of birds visiting it soon gets eaten up!
• Fat Balls are another favourite and I noticed my Blackcaps enjoying them this year as was a Great Spotted Woodpecker amongst other species.
• Keep the nuts topped up as they offer quick energy although other than the Woodpecker and Coal Tits they weren't fed on so much this year. Even the squirrels ignored them homing in on the sunflower hearts which without doubt have been the most favoured food type this winter!

The other thing to consider is erecting a couple of extra nesting boxes when the temperature drops as many species will overnight in boxes when it gets really cold! Tits are especially known for this with sometimes 10-20 huddled together in one box to keep warm!! I have erected several boxes around the garden recently but will tell you about them in more detail next post...

I think the talk of feeding the birds and nest boxes brings me nicely to my recent 'snowy' feathered visitors....

Massive numbers of Blackbirds in the garden this winter. Sprinkling Raisins or meal worms on the ground certainly brings them in...

  

Chaffinches are at home on the bird table but also frequent the seed feeders as well as joining the ground feeders on the deck! Good numbers this year again.

We really are Buzzard rich in North Somerset and they are a common sight over the garden. This one is part of a group of three that flew past the bedroom window and I just managed to grab the camera and take a quick snap!!...

Sunflower Hearts are without doubt the most popular feed this winter and my finch count has gone through the roof with often 20+ finches in at any one time! Greenfinch in particular have shown a massive rise in numbers with a dozen birds often present, beating last winters average figures of three!! They are often joined by other species such as Brambling and Siskin so definitely worth feeding Sunflower Hearts if you can!... 

 We've seen two Robins in the garden on a regular basis this winter...

What was I saying about Sunflower Hearts!! Cheeky Chappy!!....

 I love Reed Buntings coming to my table! We've had a regular four visiting recently!...

 Goldfinch in the snow...

Top Tip.....                                                                

Leave seed heads on your perennial plants such as Rudbeckia and Verbena as the finches love them, especially the Goldfinches that spend hours teasing out the seeds that are a valuable winter food source for them!The plants can be pruned back in Spring before the new shoots come...

Well that's about it for another post. Lets hope that we can start talking about some proper gardening projects and better weather again very soon! Next time we'll look at placing bird boxes as we will be getting to the time of year when we need to make them ready for the nesting season in spring! I'm sure there will be much more to talk about also!

Before I leave you I want to re-introduce Cottage Gardener (CG) again! He is still working his large half acre plot and has lots of plans to make improvements and to encourage more wildlife into the garden which is always a good thing! I think that he also plans on adding more details about his plans on his blog, which should be an interesting read! So if like me you find the lack of gardening weather frustrating this could be another garden worth following as time goes on! If you fancy taking a look for yourself you can view his 'Cottage gardening' blog here.. http://cottagegardening.blogspot.co.uk/

Amazingly CG has told me that he was inspired to start his garden project and blog after reading my blog here! This is fantastic and if I've only inspired one person to garden for wildlife then it makes it all worth it!! With this in mind I always love your feed back about both the blog and my garden so please do feel free to keep the comments coming and make suggestions, I always read them and answer every one!...

I'll say bye for now and see you next time!

Best

Higgy

Planting Native Trees for Wildlife

Hi All,

This will be my last post of 2012 and it's a real shame that I can't say what great weather it is and what a hectic time I've had in the garden! The truth of the matter is that it still continues to rain and all hope of gardening has been quite literally washed away! The garden continues to be boggy and at times covered with a layer of standing water which makes all plans redundant!

As work has been non existent I thought I'd tell you about some native trees that I have been fortunate to purchase recently, and the benefits that they will offer to wildlife.

Unfortunately having spent the last couple of years trying to get the hedgerows in the garden into some kind of usable state for wildlife we have suffered on both sides of the garden with large parts of it being removed this year! As the trees and bushes in question weren't on my side of the boundary there was little I could do to prevent this happening. This was a real shame as some of the removed bushes and trees were laden with berries and I'd been looking forward to seeing what feathered visitors arrived over the course of this winter. The other negative for my family is the lack of privacy that the removal of these plants has caused (as shown below)

In this picture you can see that we are left with a simple wire fence and no cover for the birds and other wildlife. The two shrubs with labels on are a Guelder Rose and an Alder Buckthorn, both of which will grow into large shrubs/small trees and can be formed into a 'loose' hedge for wildlife.

Where the neighbours shed is now clearly visible, I have planted a Crab Apple to give height and fruit for birds. I have also included another Alder Buckthorn here and an evergreen honeysuckle, which will be trained along the bamboo framework. In time this should mingle in amongst the other shrubs to create privacy and another source of berries for wintering birds and summer nectar  for pollinators.

 Elder is a useful small tree for an informal and native wildlife hedge and I have planted several on both boundaries of the garden. The berries are loved by birds and the flowers can be used for making wine and cordials so something to keep everyone happy! (A word of warning though is that the berries can be toxic to dogs if eaten in large quantities so please be aware if planting in your garden!)

Another tree to keep everyone happy is the Hazel, which if kept hard pruned every other year should give a good supply of Hazel Nuts! More importantly another great wildlife tree to include in your native hedge or as a small tree. (A consideration here is that Grey Squirrels will be attracted to the supply of nuts)

Note that I have tagged all my bare root trees and shrubs. I have done this as they currently don't look like much more than a stray sapling growing and the tags will hopefully prevent me and more importantly anyone else from pulling it out before they grow up into a decent sized plant!!!

So before telling you about my bigger trees planted in the field, here's a quick run down of the plants mentioned above and planted in my hedge rows so far...

Guelder Rose (Viburnum opulus), Grows up to 1.5m tall to form a small tree/large shrub, Small white flowers benefit pollinators, it has green leaves that turn red in Autumn and the winter berries are loved by Bull Finches & Mistle Thrushes amongst other berry eating birds.

Alder Buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula), Can grow 4m x 4m at full maturity but is good for creating an informal hedge. Glossy green leaves turn yellow in Autumn, the red berries that turn black will be eaten by some birds. Most importantly Buckthorns are the ONLY food plant source for the Brimstone Butterfly so we must try and get more people growing it in their gardens!!

Crab Apple (Malus sylvestris) Smallish Tree with pretty pink or white flowers in Spring that are loved by pollinators and are especially attractive to bees. The Crab Apple is actually known to home over 90 species of insect! The fruits in the Autumn are loved by many birds but are particularly attractive to Robins, Starlings, Finches and Thrushes. 

Elderberry (Sambuccus Nigra) A really underrated small tree in my book, It can grow up to 10m but can be kept smaller and useful in an informal hedge, pinky/white flowers in June-July have a scent and are visited by pollinators, followed by black berries that are loved by many birds and will also be eaten by some small mammals such as wood mouse etc.

Hazel (Corylus avellana) Small Tree or Shrub that benefits from being coppiced but extremely useful either in a hedge or a small tree in a small garden. Hazelnuts will be taken by all manner of wildlife including Squirrels and Mice. Woodpeckers can be attracted to this tree as will Jays and Jackdaws who find the nuts irresistible! 

So that's a quick run down on my hedging now lets look at the three native trees that I have planted in the field at the bottom of my garden.

Wild Cherry planted as an 8foot bare root sapling in the field at the bottom of the garden.

Wild Cherry (Prunus avium) A medium sized tree that will grow up to 20m, white flowers in early Spring will be visited by early pollinating insects and the Cherries that appear in summer are a good food source for many bird species. Apparently the cherries also make lovely brandy!!! :-)

A Small Leaved Lime planted as an 8foot bare root sapling in the field at the bottom of the garden.

Small Leaved Lime (Tilia cordata) A large tree at 25m with small heart shaped leaves, In summer it produces a mass of sweet smelling flowers that attracts a huge number of pollinating insects looking for nectar. I'm hoping that this tree will be a great attractor of new insect species to my wild flower meadow/lawn. The dense foliage creates safe hiding places for many bird species. Apparently it is said that honey from bees feeding on the Small Leaved Lime tree is the best tasting honey that you can find anywhere! Many years ago this tree was also used for various medicines and teas to treat colds. fevers and inflammation as well as high blood pressure! 

My Common Alder Sapling, which I'm very excited about...

Common Alder (Alnus glutinosa) Now this is a magnificent tree with the potential of growing very large! It is a lover of damp or waterlogged ground so our low lying position should suit it beautifully! Many years ago the Common Alder would have been a common site in this area so having the opportunity to plant one myself is a real thrill. Alder can grow to 30m although are generally smaller than this. They reach maturity at 60 years and will live for 150years! They support a wealth of wildlife including many birds that feed on the catkins produced by this tree. Species commonly found will be Finches, Redpols, Siskin amongst others. The Alder Moth caterpillar feeds on its leaves as does the Alder Kitten Moth caterpillar! I'm hopeful that over the years we will see both of these moths and other species from this and the other trees planted.

Quick Tip

If you are planning to plant bare root trees in your own garden, make sure that you tie them to a good sized wooden stake which is set firmly in the ground. Use a properly designed rubber tie and fasten it near the base of the trunk. This will prevent 'chaffing' of the bark and allow the tree it's natural movement in the wind whilst holding the root system stable.

I hope that this post has given you an insight into what I'm still striving to achieve for wildlife in my garden, whilst giving you ideas of plants and their benefits for wildlife that you can take away and use in your own garden?

To finish off what has been a bit of a disastrous gardening year here are a few pictures of my feathered friends including a first and a new record for the garden making 2012 a very good 'wildlife year' in the garden....

This female Blackcap has been a daily visitor to the garden for quite some time now and is partial to the fat balls and sunflower hearts that I put out for the birds. A male Blackcap has now also started to visit quite regularly although the female will often chase it off!

Once again my Reed Buntings have made a very welcome winter return to the bird table and favour the loose mixed bird seed from the table.

This Brambling is the first to the garden since the winter of 2010 so a very welcome winter visitor!

 This Siskin is a brand new record for the garden and a great way to celebrate the end of another year of 'Higgy's Garden Project' The arrival of a new species in the garden is so thrilling and makes all the hard work so worth while! 

So that is about if for 2012! It's a shame that the weather has been unkind to us and we haven't achieved quite as much as we planned at the start of the year. However our wildlife count has gone through the roof with so many new species visiting us, our bird species tally is up to 45 and butterflies to 16 which is amazing! Other insects have found their way to the garden and I look forward to seeing some of the moths and butterflies from the different caterpillars that I've recorded this year!

The garden has allowed me to continue to develop my passion for wildlife photography and you can see some of the results on my new website that I recently built from scratch here....  http://www.northsomersetwildlifeandnaturephotography.com/

Amazingly this blog was also picked up by BBC researchers who are now interested in possibly using the garden in a new 'gardening for wildlife' program set to be shown in summer 2013! I await to find out if we have been successful, which is very exciting for me and my family and a fantastic reward for what we have been trying to achieve in the garden!!

My last job of the year is to thank all my readers and followers for staying with me and sending me some great comments and feedback! It's this interaction and feedback that enables me to keep writing and developing both the garden and the blog to make it interesting and I hope informative to you all? Please do keep the comments coming as I'm always so glad to hear from you...

So I wish you a very HAPPY & PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR and hope to see you all here again in 2013!!?....

Best 

Higgy :-) 

Somerset Native Wild Flowers & A Big Garden Wash Out!!...

Hello All,

I thought that it was about time that I actually put 'finger to key' and typed an update on what has, or mores the case, hasn't been happening in Higgy's garden!

Well to be honest There isn't very much to say, the wet weather has really put a stop to any sensible gardening as our low lying garden has been extremely 'squelchy' to say the least! In fact we have had days when the garden has sat pretty much underwater with only my (not so dry) dry riverbed preventing the rest of the garden from flooding as you can see below!...

 At about 2 feet deep you can see how my dry river bed became a reservoir with all the water from the garden running into it and draining away! The shear 'wetness' of the garden generally has brought gardening to a stop this year! 

With the garden so wet any thoughts of further projects become impossible! In some ways the wet weather preventing me from getting out hasn't necessarily come at a bad time, as my health hasn't been very good over the last couple of months and I have been laid up for much of it with a bad back and painful hips!

Despite the treacherous wet weather and health issues I have still been secretly planning a few things in my mind and will hopefully share these plans with you over the winter months.

Two things that I have been able to do recently is order wild flower seeds for my wild flower meadow and order a few native trees to plant out along the garden's boundary to enhance the hedges and provide food for insects and birds alike!

So with little else to report this is what I will be trying in 2013...

Wild Flowers 
As last year I will be sowing seeds direct into my meadow and also growing some as plug plants to be planted out in Spring. I have again generally gone for seeds that are native to Somerset or at least the South West where possible. Below is my latest list of seeds that I have ordered from my same supplier as last year Emorsgate Seeds http://wildseed.co.uk/ I have listed the common name with a link to Emorsgate description of each plant and finally its area of origin...

Common Spotted Orchid http://wildseed.co.uk/species/view/43 (Somerset)
Small Teasel http://wildseed.co.uk/species/view/47 (England)
Corn Marigold http://wildseed.co.uk/species/view/7 (Cornwall)
Cat's-ear http://wildseed.co.uk/species/view/66 (Somerset)
Pheasant's-eye http://wildseed.co.uk/species/view/9 (England)
Wild Mignonette http://wildseed.co.uk/species/view/115 (Somerset)
Bladder Campion http://wildseed.co.uk/species/view/131 (Somerset)
Meadow Crane's-bill http://wildseed.co.uk/species/view/58 (Somerset)
Yellow Rattle http://wildseed.co.uk/species/view/2 (Somerset)
Night-Flowering Catchfly http://wildseed.co.uk/species/view/129 (England)
Small Scabious http://wildseed.co.uk/species/view/123 (Hertfordshire)
Greater Knapweed http://wildseed.co.uk/species/view/33 (Dorset)
Common Poppy http://wildseed.co.uk/species/view/8 (Somerset)
Cornflower http://wildseed.co.uk/species/view/6 (Herefordshire)
Corncockle http://wildseed.co.uk/species/view/4 (England)
Square-stalked St john's-wort http://wildseed.co.uk/species/view/220 (England)
Hedge Bedstraw http://wildseed.co.uk/species/view/54 (Somerset)
Nettle-leaved Bellflower http://wildseed.co.uk/species/view/30 (Somerset)
Lesser Burdock http://wildseed.co.uk/species/view/21 (Somerset)
Scarlet Pimpernel http://wildseed.co.uk/species/view/14 (Somerset)
Common Knapweed http://wildseed.co.uk/species/view/32 (Somerset)

As you will see from the above list the large majority of plants that I have chosen are from Somerset or England generally. However there are a few rogue plants in amongst them, which might at first glance seem strange! There is actually some logic to this as I will try and explain. Common Knapweed grows very well in this part of North Somerset and did extremely well for bees last year, so I've included Greater Knapweed in the hope that it will also do well. Attracting more moths to the garden is something that I'm keen to do also so I have included Night-flowering Catchfly which should provide night time nectar for visiting moths! Corn Marigold is a native to Cornwall but having used it for several years I can honestly say that it is one of my best wild flowers for pollinators and only this year I kept it in flower from May until the first 'heavy' frost which was at the beginning of December! So I suppose the conclusion is that I am trying to keep as native to this region as I can, however there are valid reasons and benefits to certain species by adding a few other things into the mix also, so do your research and obviously be prepared to be a little 'flexible' once you've had a season or two and you start to build a picture of what works for you!

The only other thing that I have achieved recently is to get my native trees but I won't bore you with more details now and save it for my next post when I've got some pictures of them to post alongside my rambling words!

Finally I'll leave you with a run down of a few visitors to the garden that have kept me entertained whilst off work with my current injuries....

This Great Spotted Woodpecker is a fairly regular visitor to the garden now. I have also had a couple of visits from a Green Woodpecker although it generally sits in the large Oak tree at the bottom of the garden and out of range for a decent picture!

In November I found several 'Ruby Tiger Moth' caterpillars in amongst the long grass of the wild flower meadow. Having not seen one of these moths before I'm extremely excited to see what other types of species we get in the garden next summer!

My Blackcap pair have continued to visit and seem at home on the fat balls or generally hanging out in the bushes and hedges in the garden! 

It has to be said that it has to be everyone's favourite, the Robin and they never fail to disappoint. This little chap follows anyone who ventures out into the garden (including the dog!) and has also taken to sitting on top of some trellis by the kitchen window so that he can stare in at you as if asking for some food!

Finally some kind of mosquito or gnat which was sat warming itself up in the sun. At only a few millimetres long impossible to ID with the naked eye so I took a quick snap. Unfortunately despite a reasonable picture I still don't have an ID for it! Please feel free to ID this one for me if you can!!?

Well that's about it for now,  lets hope that the weather starts to improve and gives us some decent periods of dry weather to dry the ground out a bit and let us get out into the garden again! I'm really not sure how plants will do with all the wet around their roots and I'm sure next summer will be interesting seeing what has survived what hasn't and if anything has actually thrived from all the wet!?

Next time I will give you a detailed look at my Native trees and my reasons for the species I picked and how they will benefit wildlife in the garden.

As always a huge thank you for reading and following my ramblings! Please do leave comments and feedback as they really help me develop this blog and hopefully make it an interesting read for all to enjoy!?

Best

Higgy 

 

Build a Simple Bird Box....

Hello All,

Unfortunately the weather still hasn't improved and any thoughts of gardening have been dismissed due to the completely water logged conditions here. The fields to the rear of my garden have been under water many times this year but have been submerged completely for the last two weeks now!! Health wise I have been suffering with my hip and back again so in some ways the boggy conditions have probably been at the right time to allow me the rest and relaxation that I'm not usually very good at!!!

Despite being house bound my mind tends to be on the garden and of course the wildlife that I have now become so accustomed to seeing in the garden. The birds have been absent for some time as they have been going through the Autumn moult and of course the wet ground makes worming so much easier for them! For a second year the hedges are laden with berries so unless we get a real cold snap I expect numbers to be 'reserved' again! Having said this I have noticed a slight increase on the feeders so it pays to keep them topped up with fresh grub so  they know that a ready supply is always available in 'Higgy's' garden!!

Thinking of the birds made me realise that now is the perfect time to be making and cleaning bird boxes. Getting clean boxes in place now gives prospective 'tenants' the opportunity to picking the right box ready for the Spring breeding season. If we do happen to get a harsh winter the boxes also serve as a warm place for birds to roost, it isn't unusual for several birds such as bluetits to sleep in the same box huddled together to reserve heat and get through an icy night or two!

So with the above in mind I've dug out my old bird box plan and thought that I'd share it on here for anyone who is interested in making their own simple bird box....

The first thing to think about is the type of wood that you need to use. I favour rough cut and untreated wood as the roughness will help chicks climb out when they fledge and being untreated there is no chance of any nasty chemicals leaching out and harming the birds who will peck at the box to mark their territory and make themselves at home!....

The picture above shows the the wood required for this simple box. Generally I find 15mm-20mm thick wood about the right thickness as it makes a box that is sturdy but not to heavy. Please see below for my size guide....

•  Back Panel - 120mm wide x 250mm high
• Side Panels -  120mm wide x 250mm high at rear cut at an angle to 200mm at the front
• Front Panel -  120mm wide x 200mm high
• Floor Panel -  120mm x 120mm
• Roof Panel -   140mm x 160mm

• To make the box you will need a hammer, water based wood glue, 50mm long nails, galvanised large head roofing tacks, shed felt or preferably 1mm thick rubber pond liner, galvanised wire or hanging fixings and water based wood preserver in your choice of colour.

Now that you have your wood cut and everything that you need, start by fixing together the sides, back and front but include the base at this stage to ensure you get the box nice a square....

I use 50mm long nails to fix the panels together however I also use a thin bead of water based wood glue on each edge to add extra strength. To minimise risk of contact with birds using the box I only use glue on the outer edge which prevents seepage into the inside of the box.

A good tip for this stage of construction is to put the box together using just two nails on each side but don't hammer them all the way in yet as you may need to remove them and adjust if the box isn't quite square!....

Once that you have all four sides and the base in place and you are happy that the box is square you can hammer home the nails and add a couple more in each side to add extra strength. At this stage wipe of any excess glue and make sure that there is no residue inside the box.

Next take your roof section and lay it on top of some 1mm thick rubber pond liner or similar waterproof material...

Cut the liner so that you have enough to cover the front and side edges of the lid but leave at least 70mm off the back edge....

Fix the liner in place by pulling it tight over the edges and securing using galvanised roofing tacks. At this stage don't fix the liner over the rear edge.... 

Pull the liner towrds the back of the lid so that it's tight and secure with tacks along the top face as shown below. You can now trim off the excess liner from the front and side edges so that it is neat....

Place the lid on top of the box so that there is an small even overhang on the front and sides and fix it to the box by tacking the loose piece of liner to the rear of the box. This will hold it in place and act as a hinge when opening the box. In the picture below you will notice that I have actually used two pieces of Rubber to add extra strength....

Finally tip the box upside down and drill a couple of drainage holes in the bottom to keep it dry!

Hole Sizes....

It is your choice if you choose to drill the hole at this stage or prior to the box construction. There are however a few things to consider before reaching for the drill. To prevent predators such as cats and squirrels reaching in and 'hooking' out chicks the hole must be a minimum of 125mm from the base of the box. Your next consideration is what type of bird you actually want to attract to the box as different species prefer certain hole sizes! To help you decide I have included a list of species to hole size....

• Blue Tit            -  25mm
• Marsh Tit         -  25mm
• Great Tit           - 28mm
• House Sparrow - 32mm
• Tree Sparrow   - 28mm 
• Coal Tit            - 25mm
• Starling             - 45mm
• Pied Flycatcher - 28mm
• Nuthatch          - 32mm
• Redstart           - 32mm

Once your hole is drilled it's worth just slightly 'roughening' inside the box just below the hole as this will give young birds something to help them grip and get up to the hole.

And that's the construction finished!...

Now just choose your colour! Note that I have left the inside of the hole unpainted as although using water based paint I know that occupying birds will generally peck around the hole so I like to make sure that there is as little opportunity as possible for them to come into contact with it.....

You will also need to consider how you fix your box up but this will depend on what you are actually hanging it on. I don't have space to show different fixings but generally I use the galvanised wire and a couple of screws and then adapt it to whatever surface I'm securing it to. You might also want to consider a hook on each side to hold the lid down and prevent squirrels from opening it up to get at the eggs or chicks. Once again there are several options from home made with wire and a screw, to shop bought hooks & eyes, the choice is yours!!...

Locating Your Bird Box....

For the best results generally facing your box in a North-east direction seems to be the most favourable position, however more importantly you want it sited where it is out of direct sunlight and sheltered from prevailing winds and rain. Also consider how easy the location is for a predator to access the box? Putting the box between 2mtrs & 5mtrs high and away from climbable structures will keep it's occupants safe from harm. Generally boxes potentially used by the same species should be situated a reasonable distance away from each other to avoid territory deputes. Distance between boxes used by different species such as Blue Tit and House Sparrows for example isn't so crucial, so if you are limited for space and want more than one box erect boxes for different species where possible. It is a good idea to avoid situating a box near a feeding station as the constant disruption of other birds feeding is likely to prevent the box from being used.

Well that's about it for now folks! I hope that this has inspired you to consider your feathered visitors this winter and of course provide a place for you to enjoy them coming and going also! Sited in the right location and viewable from inside the house can be a thrill when you realise the box is occupied and all your hard work has paid off!....

Please do send me your comments and questions as I will always answer any correspondence that I receive!

Cheers

Higgy