Go wild in the garden, it’s natural

SOME readers have been in contact arising from last week’s column on the proliferation of insects this summer, and we can only hope that the message sent out wasn’t all negative.

Not all insects are bad; far from it, and practically every living thing in the wild has a natural predator. Wildlife gardening is all about working with the balance of nature, says the Irish Peatland Conservation Council (IPCC), which also offers useful tips. The idea is to enhance your garden to attract a range of wildlife, including birds, insects, frogs, hedgehogs, butterflies, native wildflowers, plants and trees. In short, wildlife gardening involves working with nature to create a space for our native wildlife. On a personal note, beautifully-speckled thrushes are welcome regular visitors.

Wildlife gardening, once established, requires minimum maintenance, according to the IPCC. Giving a key bit of advice, it says the aim should be to have as many different types of native flowers and trees, insects and birds, and then you can sit back and relax while nature takes care of itself.