Do you try to attract wildlife to your garden?

There is a short period in the spring when heavy clay is between the too wet and too dry stages that weeding is slightly easier, the 95% rest of the year, it is very hard work. Have you checked what plants found in sandy seaside areas might grow in your soil.

Do you have many wood pigeons? We used to see a lot of collared doves and wood pigeons maybe 50 of each at a time, but we now only have a couple of regular wood pigeons. We have seen a couple of collared doves this year the first for at least 5 years. They have been replaced by a few stock doves, a pair of feral pigeons, and white doves. The white doves (escaped from somewhere), started as a pair 3 years ago and have no problem multiplying. They are also the bullies of the garden and have no fear of us. If you think wood pigeons are greedy, white doves are even worse.

Do you put mixed seed in your feeders? We used to, but birds are quite fussy and drop what they don’t like that can end up a disgusting mess under the feeders and encourage the wood pigeons. The only seeds we now put in feeders are sunflower hearts, more expensive, but less waste.

The RHS give a comprehensive list of plants for sandy soils. Best to avoid unsuitable plants. Favourites can always be grown in pots and tubs.

I’m on clay and have lightened the soil over the years with compost, home grown largely from lawn mowerings and shredded hedge clippings (aided by Garotta) and spent mushroom compost. Makes the weeds easier to extract as well.

The crows work as a team on the bird feeder. One grabs the perch and flaps its wings to swing the feeder, spilling seed on the ground. The others then breakfast on that. They don’t seem to mind other species joining in, whether tits or pigeons

Although there is a small chalk quarry a mile down the road, there is little evidence of much free lime. I did check when I moved in. Nevertheless, the pH is probably fairly high and I’ve had to treat rhododendrons with sulphur and iron to deal with chlorosis. Lavenders did seem suitable for the well drained soil, but they did not thrive until I tried one in a pot.

The birds are safe round here because I’ve only seen a single cat and it’s not very athletic.

This morning we were watching a young greater spotted woodpecker being fed by its parent, such a wonderful sight.
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(not my photo)

Just now we saw its remains on the lawn near the birdbath, so sad and it just makes me so angry.

In the rural-ish area where we live, the first thing newcomers do when they move in is get themselves cats. WHY???? They are just killing machines especially to the young wildlife who haven’t had time to learn to fear them.

Cats should be banned from going outside this time of year. GRRRRR.

We’re surrounded by hill farms, and they all have cats and small terriers, apparently to control the rat populations. But we also have huge numbers of nests in our trees (we have a lot of trees…) and one wood pigeon nest immediately outside our downstairs entrance below the canopy I fixed some years ago.

Daft as brushes, wood pigeons, They still haven’t cottoned onto the fact that they’re perfectly safe where they are, and every time we open the door there’s a huge panicked flapping as they desert the nest. Surely even a bird can make the link between being fed every day and the creatures who do the feeding?

Parrots might be more intelligent than pigeons.

Apparently, You’re correct, sir.

I think there is a difference between cats who live on farms and those that are house pets.

Farms do tend to get more mice and rats and thinking of relatives farms where hay or feed is stored, cats are less pampered and spend much of their time in those barns keeping the rodent population down. We get the odd field-mouse but catch and release them in woodland a few miles away.

Cats that are house pets on the other hand just kill for fun. They live in residential areas where people feed and encourage wildlife and other peoples gardens become their playground.

We seem to have waves of newcomers to the area when they get themselves cats and there is a definite decline in wildlife until the cat population drops. Over the next few weeks, a cat running through the garden with a youngster in its mouth will be a common sight.

I just wish cat owners took more responsibility for their pets and kept them indoors during the breeding season to give the young a chance to survive.

I agree. Little bells on their necks would be a good start.

Good idea. Saves growing your own. 🙂

🙂 I will ask before taking cuttings.

Yes, they are definitely wood pigeons.

Husband wanted Eddie L’Izzard and son wanted Bob so we compromised. 😉

Did you watch “Death in Paradise”?. One of the stars was Harry the lizard. I hope yours is not also CGI. https://www.radiotimes.com/news/2017-06-16/heres-how-death-in-paradise-brings-harry-the-lizard-to-life/