OUGD504 - Guidebook Research - Encouraging Wildlife to the Garden - Food

Feeding Wildlife

-- Plants for Caterpillars

- All over UK: Red admiral , small tortoiseshell
- UK Except Shetland : green veined white, small copper, common blue , meadow brown
- UK Except north and west Scotland: orangetip and peacock
- UK Except North England and south and central Scotland : Speckled Wood
- Lowland England, Wales and South Scotland : Large Skipper
-Lowland England and Wales: small skipper, brimstone , comma, gatekeeper
- Lowland England, Wales and eastern Northern Island : holly blue

- butterflies only lay their eggs on certain types of plants, with different species having different preferences
- e.g. black peacock butterflies develop on nettles
- red admiral, peacock, small tortoise shell and common caterpillars eat nettles in sunny sheltered locations
- gate keepers meadow browns and skippers eat tall wild grasses
- orange tip and green veined white caterpillars eta garlic mustard and lady's smock (seen as weeds)
- common blue's eat bird's - foot trefoil
- holly blue caterpillars eat holly and ivy
- brimstone caterpillars like alder buckthorn and purging buckthorn, native small trees
- butterflies and moths lay eggs on grass stems so that the larvae can feed on them
- eat a lot of leaves and vegetation as they need the energy to be able to metamophose
- spread out poatches of plants that are eaten by caterpillars within a border to avoid having large gaps
- grow nettles and brambles in an out of the way part of the garden
- grasses are useful for caterpillers


https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/give-nature-a-home-in-your-garden/garden-activities/growfoodthatcaterpillarslove/

-- Planting for Moths 

- planting night flowering plants attract nocturnal insects
- moths need nectar rich plants
- primroses, honeysuckles, jasmine, evening primroses are night flowering
- moth caterpillars enjoy foxgloves, primrose, thyme and lady's bedstraw
- summer plants : Jasmine, Honeysuckle, Nicotina Alata, Hemp - Agrimony
- autumn plants : ivy, michaelmas daisy, sedum spectabile
- trees, shrubs, flowers and grasses needed for moths
- longer grasses, thistles and knapweeds provide food for moths
- many moth caterpillars eat the leaves of native trees such as oak, birch, willows
- hedges such as hawthorn, privet, hazel and beech
- ornamental plants are fed on by moth caterpillars
- nectar plants give moths fuel and energy for flying
- have a wide range of nectar rich flowers that are out for most of the year
- birds and bats eat caterpillars
- blue tits, great tits and robins feed them to their chicks
- important to have plants for the caterpillars as well as flowers for the adults
- attracted to a strong sweet scent
 yellow or white flowers as colour is not as important for night flying insects

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=499
https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/give-nature-a-home-in-your-garden/garden-activities/growfoodformoths/

-- Planting for Bees 

- bees need flowers for food and flowers need bees to pollinate them

- double flowers are often bred without male and female parts, some have many petals which means the bees can't get too the nectar and pollen

- bees can see purple flowers much more easily than other colours e.g. lavendar, alluims, buddleia

- by deadheading the flowers this can lead to further blooms  

- Native species with open structured flowers good for bees and Buddlea is loved by butterflies
- Overbred plants that are often large have few flowers, which are not suitable for attracting lots of insects as they hold little pollen
- Tubular shaped flowers are favoured by long tongued bees such as bumble bees e.g. foxgloves, honey suckle and penstemons
- provide flowers throughout the year
- between March and September bees are most active
- plants are pollinated by bees when they are getting nectar
- wild bees and honey bees also collect pollen to feed grubs
- need both nectar and pollen rich flowers
- see ultravoilet, some flowers have marks on them showing the bees where to land
- need different flower shapes as different bees like different sizes because of their anatomies e.g. long and short tongued
- in spring, summer and autumn bumblebees need the nectar
- in spring early flowering plants are needed for solitary females and queen bumblebees

- flowering current and gorse
- roses, contonester, floxglove, perennial pea , red clover
- cat mint, honeywort, echinops


- Plants with flowers for bees, Betony, Comfrey, Field Bean , Thistles, Verbascums, Chives, Nasturium, Catmint, Marjoram, Sage, Mint, Bugle, Clovers , Foxglove, Lavender, Woundworts, Borage, Rosemary, Toadflax, Curry Plant , Craesbills, Alkanet, Buddleia, Knapweed, Snapdragon
- Early Flowers: Bluebells, Dandelion, Aubretia, Single Crocus, Hazel, Primrose, Forget - Me - Not , Flowering Currant, Winter Heather
- Late Flowers: Michaelmas Daisies, Buddleia, Sedum , Escallonia, Ceanothus, Ivy, Goldenrod, Lavendar , Echinacea, Red Valerian

- Spring flowers : Bluebell, daffodil, dandelion, hawthorn, forget - me - nots, flowering currant, flowering cherry
- Early Summer Flowers : foxglove, Snapdragon, delphinium, everlasting sweet peas
- Late summer Flowers - Buddleia, Ivy, Penstemons, Sedum, Cornflower, Michaelmas Daisies, Heather, Lavender, Globe Thistle, Fuchsia



- Summer: Echinacea purpurea, Salvia,

- Never use pesticides on plants as they can harm bees
- early and late flowers provide nectar throughout the year
- planting in swathes allows scent to be more recognisable


http://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/plant-inspiration/plants-for-bees/
http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/sites/wt-main.live.drupal.precedenthost.co.uk/files/files/Wildlife%20Gardening/GardenBumblebees.pdf

Butterfly Banana

- use an old speckled banana and squish it with your fingers without breaking the skin
- use a knife to pierce the banana a few times
- put in a sunny, sheltered position raised off the ground (chest height) near flowers and foliage

https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/give-nature-a-home-in-your-garden/garden-activities/makeabutterflybanquet/

Bird Feeders

- hang a bird feeder from a branch or use one that attaches to a window with a suction pad
- squirrel proof bird feeders are available with a metal cage around the feeder which is biteproof
- these cages which the birds can get into but others can't also protect birds from aerial predators
- feeding throughout the year is beneficial however during winter and when birds are foraging for young are particularly important times
- feeders should not be put near nest boxes as this could put off other birds using the boxes
- drilling holes in a dish for string and as drainage holes means it can be hung as a feeder
- seeds, mealworms and fruit are appropriate however food types should not be mixed
- fat balls and seed mixes attract a variety of bird species
- provide all year round
- during winter extra food can help birds survive especially when cold
- provide a mix of food e.g. sunflower hearts, seeds, fat balls, seed mixes in bird feeders for tits, sparrows and finches
- put fruit, oats etc on a bird table for groundfeeders like blackbirds
- should not be accessible to cats
- different birds prefer different foods
- salted foods can dehydrate birds
- during spring or summer, loose peanuts, hard foods or chunks of bread might be taken back to nests leading to the chicks choking
- feeders should be put up high away from cats
- should be placed a few metres away from thick cover e.g. bushes and trees so birds can get away from birds of prey
- feed all year round, although they need different amounts at different points during the year
- breed in countryside in summer need less food
- autumn and early winter seeds and berries naturally available
- fatty foods go off easier in summer
- clean feeders regularly to avoid disease spread using water and a mild disinfectant
- clear underneath feeders to stop rodents and pests at night
- feeders may attract other animals e.g. squirrels and pigeons, to prevent this feeders with 'guardian' cages allow small birds through but doesn't let bigger birds or animals at the food
- summer feeding important for bringing up young
- whole peanuts can choke chicks
- pesticides and slug pellets can poison birds
- desiccated coconut swells in a birds stomach
- dry bread should be moistened so birds do not choke on it
- some kitchen scraps are eaten by birds such as cakes, fruit (e.g. raisins, sultanas, apple pieces, currants), nuts, bread, oats
- also eat mealworms, unsalted peanuts, suet, sunflower seeds
- provide a variety of different foods on the ground, in feeders and on bird tables
- by providing only small quantities rats will be avoided
- clean and ice free water in a dish important for birds
- also eat insects, snails, worms and caterpillars so attracting these will also help garden birds
- fat blocks in wire cages
- finely chopped bacon rind and grated cheese good for small birds
- grain mixes as well as fat give a balanced diet
- no mess mixes are expensive but lead to less waste
- wire mesh feeders are suitable for peanuts and seed feeders for other seed
- ground feeding birds such as dunnocks etc will eat from a wire mesh dish
- blackbirds and thrushes love fruit e.g. raisins, currants and over ripe apples

--Natural Food Sources for Birds

- worms living in grass lawns are fed upon by birds
- trees such as Oak, Birch, Hazel, Rowan and Alder hold insects for birds
- birds eat natural berries, fruit and seeds from different trees and shrubs
- seeds from sunflower heads are eaten by sparrows, finches and nuthatches
- plants providing seeds include Teasel, Honesty, Globe Thistles, Sunflowers, Scabious, Forget - Me- Not, Grasses, Cosmos, Michaelmas Daisies
- Trees such as Rowan, Wild Cherry, Bird Cherry provide
- Large Shrubs / Small Trees such as Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Yew, Holly , Cotoneaster, Pyracantha, Juniper, Guelder Rose, Spindle, Dog Rose , Field Rose, Mahonia, Alder Buckthorn and Holly all provide berries
- Edible  Fruit Trees and Shrubs such as Raspberries, Blackberries, Plum Tree, Apple Tree, Pear Tree, Blackcurrants, Redcurrants, Strawberries, Cherry Tree, Crab Apple, Gooseberries and Mulberry
- Climbers such as Honeysuckle, Ivy
- in summer there are lots of sources of natural food, not all of which is needed. Collecting seeds after the growing season allows for a reserve during winter e.g. buddleia and lavendar
- seeds can be shaken into a paperbag to help preserve and keep them dry for later
- sunflower seeds can picked off
- in spring there are few berries so using the stored seeds is useful
- don't dead head plants as the seeds are eaten by the birds

http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/sites/wt-main.live.drupal.precedenthost.co.uk/files/files/HedgesforWildlife.pdf
http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/sites/wt-main.live.drupal.precedenthost.co.uk/files/files/Wildlife%20Gardening/FeedingGardenBirds.pdf

-- Planting for Butterflies 

- depend on a few species of plants
- makes them more susceptible to habitat loss
- species become extinct or in major decline
- benefit from a variety of plants
- grow in sunny, sheltered places
- butterflies enjoy the warmth of the sun, they will not go to plants in the shade
- having plants that flower in spring, summer and autumn provides nectar for butterflies for most of the year
- plants to feed caterpillars are also important
- in winter butterflies that stay in the UK like to hibernate in thick vegetation which gives them cover
- by planting in groups of three or five their will be more visual impact and the flowers scent will be stronger
- some feed on fermenting fruit, manure etc
- Buddleja, Sweet Scabious, Candytuft, Hemp Agrimony
- need nectar in spring and autumn for energy
- butterflies like blue, mauve, yellow and white flowers
- they are attracted to large patches of the same colour flowers rather than mixed
- attracted by the bloom colour and the sweet scent of fallen fruit
- plant in a sunny spot as butterflies like to be warm
- Spring Plants for butterflies: Alyssum , Cowslip, Forget - Me - Not , Primrose, Polyanthus, Honesty, Grape Hyacinth
- Summer Plants : Lavender, Marigolds, Hyssop, Verbena, Marjoram, Buddleia, Goldenrod , Thyme, Field Scabious, Lady's Smock, Wallflower
- Autumn Plants : Lavender, Michaelmas Daisies, Fuchsia, Ivy , Russian Sage
- butterflies and moths lay eggs on grass stems and their larvae feed off them
- purple or red flowers

http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/sites/wt-main.live.drupal.precedenthost.co.uk/files/files/Wildlife%20Gardening/ButterflyGardening.pdf

Hedgehog Food 

- need to build energy for rearing young
- need to build fat reserves for winter hibernation
- natural diet of insects, worms, woodlice,  and other insects
- need clean fresh water supply
- milk and bread cause diarrhoea
- wet cat or dog food but not fish or beef based
- sunflower hearts and mealworms also liked by hedgehogs
- don't leave any leftovers out especially the dog and cat food as this will encourage pests and other local animals such as cats etc
- autumn is an important time for feeding as hedgehogs need the fat before hibernating
- dry dog food and bacon rind
- fresh water needed

https://ww2.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/give-nature-a-home-in-your-garden/garden-activities/openahedgehogcafe/