This is a collaborative post in partnership with The Grass People Would you like to make your garden more bee-friendly? If the answer is yes, autumn is a great time to do just that by planting wildflowers. You may already be aware that bees are struggling, with species and numbers in dramatic decline. Bees play a crucial role in the pollination of plants - and that’s all plants, including food crops. Around a third of the ...
The best flowers for bees, and easy ways to make your garden bee friendly
Is your garden popular with bees? If not, here are some easy ways to transform it into a bee friendly garden that these vital insects will love to visit. Why bees are important If you’re interested in gardening and nature, you’re probably aware that bees are in trouble, with numbers and species in quite dramatic decline. What you might not be aware of is just how important bees are to us, and the planet in general. Native bees ...
Easy sustainable gardening: eco-friendly gardening tips for greener gardens
How much do you know about sustainable gardening? It’s certainly a big issue in the gardening world right now, with high-profile gardeners and TV shows championing the benefits of eco-friendly gardening. What is sustainable gardening? Sustainable gardening is all about minimising human interference, and using natural resources and processes. This doesn’t mean you have to allow your garden to become a wilderness, rather that you ...
60 fun garden activities for when you’re stuck at home with the kids
If you're stuck at home with the kids, you're probably in need of some boredom-busting inspiration. Here's a great list of 60 fun things to do in your garden to keep kids busy and get them outside. Scroll down for online resources and recommended reads too. Things to do in the garden when stuck at home with the kids 1. Grow your own salad from Growing Family 2. Recycled garden markers from Pink Stripey Socks 3. DIY slate bunting ...
50 fun ideas to get kids gardening
If you're keen to keep the kids busy and active, I've got lots of great kids gardening ideas to inspire and occupy them! Children make very natural gardeners in my experience. They love hands-on activities, they’re curious about nature and the world around them, and they generally relish the opportunity to get grubby! Gardening caters for all of this, and right from the toddler stage it’s perfectly possible for kids to get stuck ...
Win a wireless wildlife camera worth £149.99 – plus discount code
Welcome to a great new wildlife camera giveaway which is perfect for spring, when our garden wildlife starts to get busy! I've got a state-of-the-art Wireless Wildlife Observation Camera worth £149.99 from Wildlife World to give away to one lucky winner. There's also a very generous discount code for my readers on this product, read on for more details :) Wildlife World are based in Gloucestershire, and specialise in the design and ...
Why gardening is good for you and the planet
Collaborative post Are you someone who’s been gardening for years? Someone who’s only recently discovered the joys of gardening? Or maybe someone who’s never even picked up any gardening tools before, but curious to find out what the hype is all about? Well, gardening engages the body, stimulates the mind and uplifts the spirit! Not only can gardening provide many mental and physical health benefits, but it can also provide environmental ...
Summer garden makeover ideas with T J Hughes
Aren’t we having the most glorious summer at the moment? I’m writing this post with the windows open and the sun streaming in, and I’m thinking I really must sort out some shade for my laptop screen so that I can write out in the garden. I’m desperate to make the most of the season when it’s so glorious out there - particularly after the extra-long cold start we had to the year! Spending more time outdoors in the garden always gives me a ...
11. The 10 minute gardener: winter wildlife gardening
Welcome to a special wildlife gardening edition in the 10 minute gardener series. This time I’m looking at quick gardening jobs you can fit into a busy schedule that will help your local wildlife during winter. Winter is a tough season for garden wildlife; the cold weather demands high-energy food, but natural food sources are hard to find. Because we don’t spend as much time outdoors in winter, it’s easy to forget that our local wildlife is ...
Garden tips for creating a winter wildlife haven
Is your garden a winter wildlife haven? We tend to spend a lot less time in our gardens during winter, but that isn’t necessarily the case for our local wildlife. As well as visiting your garden in search of food, wildlife will also use it as a place to hibernate during the colder months if you’re providing the right conditions. If you’d like to make your garden wildlife-friendly this season, check out this fab infographic from Oeco Garden ...