This
year’s AGM was followed by a wonderful talk from one of our very own
members, Frances Dismore, which included amazing photographs of
wildlife, their habitats and insect houses to help support wildlife.
Frances
highlighted the problems that all wildlife is facing as a result of
climate change, but also the problems that wildlife faces as a result of
its habitats are being destroyed by development. However, we can ALL
play a part in supporting the wildlife in our own gardens, by growing
particular plants that attract insects, especially those we want to see
in our garden. Insect houses, which are easy to build or can be
purchased will attract a whole range of in insects, in turn this
benefits your plants and bird life. By growing UK wild flowers and
allowing an area of your garden to go natural you will encourage
wildlife including solitary bees and a variety of butterflies. Nettles
(grown in pots) are also ideal as caterpillars feed on them.
It
was fascinating to hear about the stag beetle, Britain’s largest
beetle, with its distinctive antler-shaped jaws. The stag beetle larvae
lives in decaying logs for up to seven years, so their habitat must be
undisturbed for the long term. I am please to have been involved in
building a stag beetle loggery on Leyton Marsh last year organised by
Frances.
A
big thank you to Frances for a great talk, which even included a
questionnaire as the talk progressed. Frances asked us to take a pledge
to introduce one new habitat for wildlife to our garden, allotment or
window box to help wildlife flourish, I urge you take this pledge and do
your bit!
British Wildflower Suppliers:
The Wildflower Nursery - https://www.thewildflowernursery.co.uk
Naturescape - https://www.naturescape.co.uk
