A Wildlife Garden

 

This garden is set in a 9 acre site, with forest on one border, and moorland on the other three. The entire garden began with the idea of creating a wildlife haven in which to raise our children, so they would grow up with knowledge and respect for the nature around us. Now we offer pond dipping with visitors' children who show an interest. There is so much life in the pond, we can almost guarantee a succesful dip.

 

We have created a variety of habitats here, plenty of shelter, and food plants. "Create the habitat, and the wildlife will move in" the saying goes, and move in it has. A few years ago we had a bird  count done, and over 40 species were identified in one day. There are water voles, lots of rabbits, lots of pond life, the occasional otter, lizards, insect life, and I am sure there is much much more that we don't see.

 

We garden the wilder areas with a light touch, ensure there are plenty of food plants year round, as well as a wide variety of habitats. We do minimal mowing, and have noticed a massive increase in insect and bird populations as a result.

 

As there is a decline in insect and other wildlife nationally, we asked an entomologist to assess the situation here. She has so far done one preliminary survey, but is very excited and positive to find a large number of species just in one day. She will do further surveys later, in diferent seasons for a fuller idea of what creatures share this garden.

 

Pine Martens became extinct in Wales, and In Autumn 2015, 20 individuals were catured from a thriving population in Scotland and introduced to mid Wales. One of the females, PM 16, declined the site she was offered, she came here, and gave birth here to a healthy kit, featured (briefly) on Springwatch 06.06.16.