Wealth of Wildlife at Scarrow Hill, Brampton
Nyjer seed, general bird seed and nut feeders have been installed, attached to the side of the house. They hang down outside the kitchen windows, allowing good visibility of birds using the feeders. The nut feeder is popular with Great Tits, Blue Tits, and also Siskin. It took at least a week for any birds to use the seed feeder, but it is now in constant use mainly by Tree Sparrows, but also Chaffinch. Tree Sparrows have also nested nearby in an old Blue Tit box. No birds have yet used the nyjer seed feeder, but we are sure that they will given time. Hanging the feeders from the side of the house has successfully ensured that the feeding birds are safe from cats.
The Leylandii tree have been taken down following careful inspection to ensure that there were no birds nesting in its branches. The area for the wildlife garden looks large and so much light has been let into the site. We can now begin the process of building the structure for the wildlife garden.
The Bumble Bee, Red Mason Bee and Solitary Bee boxes have all been installed. Perhaps installation was a little late for this season, although Bumble Bees have been seen in the vicinity of the Bumble Bee box.
Updaye 24.08.09
The wet weather has been good for the new plants as they have all taken well. The new Buddleia is flowering and has already attracted Large White butterflies and Hoverflies, as well as both White-Tailed and Buff-Tailed worker Bumblebees. Tortoiseshell and Peacock butterflies have been seen on nettles nearby.
A substantial bird table has been placed in the wildlife garden. The bird table is 2.4m tall to ensure that our cats cannot catch birds on the hanging feeders. Chaffinches, Sparrows, Robins and Great Tits are the most frequent visitors to the bird table. Blue Tits, Siskin and our favourites – the Greenfinch have also been seen. Surprisingly it is the Robins that are now eating the nyjer seed that has been placed on the table. Unfortunately the nyjer seed feeder on the side of the house remains untouched. The Tree Sparrows have also managed to hatch a second brood in the old tit nesting box. The mulch produced from the felled leylandii regularly attracts Blackbirds and Robins, presumably the moisture retention in the mulch attracts worm and insects. Other wildlife new to the garden include the Horntail and a number of young frogs.
In order to provide a long term, sustainable garden for wildlife we have also tried to establish some hedging in the very windy part of the garden. The Place-Name Scarrow Hill dates from 1596 and the meaning is likely to be “Projection of land marked by a shieling”. A shieling was generally a place or simple hut where graziers would be temporarily housed when herding animals on high ground in summer - part of the system of transhumance.
The garden at Scarrow Hill is therefore very exposed to the weather from all directions, apart from the west where the woods offer some protection. A few years ago a hawthorn and blackthorn hedge was planted along the eastern boundary, but with limited success as the young plants are regularly battered by howling easterlies. A plastic windbreak has now been installed along most of this boundary and already there is a noticeable improvement in the tree growth. Crab Apples have now been planted on part of the southern boundary, also protected by a windbreak. These shrubs, if they can become established, should provide a refuge of shelter and food for wildlife. We still plan to plant some bare rooted trees in this area later in the year as there is plenty of space. Oak, Ash and Rowan saplings would eventually grow into majestic trees and provide a really long term source of food and shelter for any wildlife in the vicinity.
CONCLUSION
It is hoped that the combination of structure, plants and nest boxes will continue to attract many birds and insects to the garden. The birds will be fed over the winter, but a long term sustainable approach is also required. The continuously available food should attract more species to the garden over time. As the plants grow and produce flowers, fruit and berries, both shelter and food can be provided to ensure that birds and insects can thrive at Scarrow Hill for many years to come.
Wildlife garden at Scarrow Hill, Brampton
The Location
Our garden is a rather windy site of one and a half acres, exposed to strong easterly winds and the prevailing south-westerlies.
The Site
The area to become a wildlife garden is probably the most sheltered part of the garden, but has not been utilized to date due to an unsightly boundary wall with a farmers midden on the other side. A large overgrown leylandi currently fills the site hiding the wall, but this also blocks light to the area.
The Aim
We aim to encourage insects especially bees and butterflies to this more sheltered spot. Insects will hopefully help to pollinate all flowers, but particularly the nearby fruit trees and vegetable garden. Birds should also be encouraged by the shelter, insects and bird feeders.
The Plan
1. Remove leylandi. This will be done at the end of the current nesting season.
2. Erect trellis fencing in front of north facing boundary wall. Plant a selection of Ivy and some Honeysuckle to grow up the trellis. This should hide the unsightly wall and disguise any smells from the midden. The ivy should prove a favorite for many birds and its flowers should be a great draw for many insects. Butterflies can feed on the Ivy flowers and perhaps over-winter in the plants’ leaf cover. To attract the Holly Blue butterfly would be the greatest bonus of all.
3. Attach additional trellis to side of garage wall. Plant Honeysuckle and Sweet Pea to grow up the wall. Hopefully these plants will do well on this west facing wall and the fragrance should encourage insects.
4. Cut back overgrown Forsythia to encourage new growth. Plant Buddleia to encourage butterflies. Plant fruit trees and Crab Apple.
5. Site bumble bee box under bush at base of oil tank (south facing) to encourage bees for pollination of fruit trees and other flowers. Erect solitary bee box on nearby tree in south facing position. Erect red mason bee box.
6. Erect bird table and attach bird feeders to side of house. Careful siting of all bird feeders is required as we have two cats. Therefore feeders attached to the house wall near to the beech and privet hedges is the preferred option. Peanuts will be fed to encourage blue tits and coal tits. Nyjer seeds should encourage Goldfinches, Greenfinches and Siskins. Seed mixes can also be fed from these feeders as a good all round feed.
Progress to date
12.05.08
Ordered solitary bee box, red mason bee box, bumble bee box.
Ordered nyjer seed bird feeder and seed.
Ordered seed bird feeder and all round seed.
Ordered nuts to fill nut bird feeder.