Spring So Far
Bees, Bugs, Beetles and Butterflies
We’re two-thirds through the spring season, and we’re sure your gardens are truly flourishing! Now is the time to witness butterflies, bugs, bees, and beetles alongside your garden birds. You may have seen insect hotels at your local nature reserve or National Trust property, which provide much needed relief for nature’s creatures as they are threatened by urbanisation. Did you know that we have smaller insect hotels and solitary beehives available? They’re definitely worth considering and are extremely popular at this time of year; they add a great feature to your garden while also giving wildlife a helping hand!
The proliferation of bugs and beetles in nature at this time of year should additionally give hedgehogs something healthy to feast on, and it means that our spiky friends should be very active. Many of us here also put out hedgehog food, and are repeatedly thrilled at spotting them roaming around our lawns, stopping to audibly crunch their food. We took this lovely photo on Saturday while enjoying an evening drink in the garden – the sociable hog definitely enjoyed the Spike’s Crunchy Dry Food we left out! Learn more about hedgehogs in our recent “view our entire hedgehog range here, for some ideas on how to care for our spiky friends!
Thirsty Work
During dry months, it’s also helpful to leave out water for various thirsty wildlife species (birds and hedgehogs included!) It’s beneficial to the health of birds and animals to keep your water trays clean, so you may want to take a look at our hygiene products if you need to replenish your stores. Or if you’re all stocked up and prepared to keep your garden birds hydrated, perhaps it’s time to treat yourself to that bird bath you’ve been looking at!
Cygnets, Ducklings and New Life
You may have already spotted cygnets at your local park or pond. Did you know that newly hatched swans will ride their parents like their very own swan-boat ride? We took this adorable photo at our local park. The “peep peep” from the ducklings zooming around ponds will also be sure to catch your attention; witnessing the activity of newly hatched wildlife is always a nice reminder of why spring is such a special time of year. Remember to feed specialist swan and duck food rather than bread (which is best described as junk food and is detrimental to avian health).
Birds in Spring
Back to garden birds, successful breeding and fledging means that there are more beaks to feed, and you might be host to young families of birds. Indeed, this applies to both resident and migrant bird species, so whether you are visited by Robins, Song Thrushes, Blackcaps or Spotted Flycatchers, a good supply of food in your garden is always essential. Let us know in the comments below which birds are visiting your gardens – and remember, your photos are also welcome!
It’s worth keeping in mind that warm temperatures mean that lawns and flower beds can dry out, which creates difficulty for Thrushes and Dunnocks who hunt for worms and invertebrates. You can help avoid problems like this by feeding Mealworms on the ground, in your seed mix, or from a ground feeder.
Enjoy the rest of the spring season, and all the beautiful sights and sounds which it brings!
Written by Andrew Jolly
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