Thursday 9 August 2012

Charity hopes wildlife gardening will blossom

A leading Devon-based charity is inviting local people to turn their gardens into mini-wildlife havens. Devon Wildlife Trust is now giving free advice to budding wildlife gardeners via a new on-line blog. The blog's first entry tells readers how to plan and plant a small annual wildflower bed. It takes a practical and realistic approach covering preparing the ground, getting seed, planting and aftercare. The blog has been written by Catherine Burgess who has created her own wildlife-friendly garden with her husband and two young children at Bovey Tracey. Catherine said: 'I have a real passion for helping to make gardens attractive, productive and also great for people and wildlife. I have been a keen gardener for many years but every day brings new opportunities. I hope readers will find the blog inspiring when there have been successes and take some of the ideas forward and improve on them when things haven't worked out so well!' Devon Wildlife Trust's Steve Hussey added: 'We're delighted to be able to share Catherine's expertise with a wide audience via the new blog. We know wildlife gardening is something that more and more people are turning to. We also know just how important it is to the wildlife that uses our gardens as their homes. Hedgehogs, bumblebees, frogs, butterflies, slow-worms, house sparrows along with countless other species are increasingly dependent on people's gardens to find a safe and secure place to live. Devon Wildlife Trust's new gardening blog is available via the Wildlife Gardening webpage at www.devonwildlifetrust.org/wildlife-gardening/ And for anyone not able to access the blog, Devon Wildlife Trust's magazine 'Wild Devon' carries a regular wildlife gardening column packed full of seasonal planting tips. The magazine is free to members of  The Trust. To join call DWT on 01392 279244.

Wildlife Gardening with Children - photo copyright Catherine Burgess

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