Gemma de Gouveia
As the nights slowly draw in, mornings become colder and leaves transform the landscape to a gentle orange hue, you know that autumn is on its way. As we get closer to winter it may be tempting to have a big tidy up, but put down the shovel! Let your garden go wild this autumn!
Our friends at Vine House Farm have some tips to get you started.
It may be tempting to grab the pruners and get snipping, but pruning too harshly removes an important habitat for invertebrates in the winter months. Less insects means less food for ground feeding birds like robins, blackbirds and song thrushes. Instead of giving your perennial plants a hefty cut, why not opt for a trim and leave plenty of foliage at or near ground level? Not only will the insects and birds be thankful, but it may also protect new shoots from late frosts.
Tom Marshall
As autumn approaches, the leaves start to gently drift towards the ground. Is there any better sound than crunchy leaves underfoot? By piling up leaves and other vegetation you can make an open compost heap, providing the perfect spot for hibernation. This will benefit invertebrates, amphibians and even some mammals. The warmer material below will attract invertebrates, which will provide a much needed meal for birds such as song thrushes on those crisp, frosty mornings.
Steve Trotter
Even though nesting season is long gone, autumn is the perfect time to put up a nest box in your garden. This will give birds the opportunity to check out any future real estate before the breeding season begins. It also provides a cosy spot for small birds to spend the night on particularly cold winter evenings.
Read Vine House Farm’s handy tips and buy your bird box here! Or, if you're feeling handy, how about making your own with our guide?
Dave Kilbey
After a busy summer it’s important to clean all of your bird feeders to avoid the spread of disease. Read Vine House Farm's top tips for keeping your feeders sparkling here. It’s easy to assume that there won’t be much to see in the winter, but with an influx of winter migrants your garden may become a bird hotspot with the right food!
Check out Vine House Farm’s tips for making sure you have the right food and feeders to suit different species.
Margaret Holland
As winter approaches, our spikey friends will be looking for somewhere warm to spend the winter. A hefty pile of leaves does the trick, but if you really want to go all out why not install a hedgehog home? You can buy yours from Vine House Farm or make your own!
Tom Marshall
Crisp autumn days are full of colour as the leaves turn red and gold. Toadstools pop up from the floor like fairy-tale towers and animals fatten up by eating brightly-coloured berries.
Long-tailed tit by Jon Hawkins - Surrey Hills Photography
Thanks to our fantastic partnership with Vine House Farm, £10 from your first order is donated back to us, as well as 4% of all future sales.
Snail by Tom Marshall
Our action pages are home to a whole host of ideas and guides on things you can do in your garden for wildlife!
