Mzzz B's December Garden Blog

It has been so wet and grey the last month that it seems hard to get into the garden to do very much. If your soil is heavy clay which a lot of Tattenhall is, then it is best to stay off it, clear off some plants that have died on top of others but a lot of the standing stems and seed heads will shelter overwintering insects and provide seed for birds.
There have been flocks of field fare and redwing feasting on berries in the garden, all the pyracantha berries have been devoured, and no doubt the holly berries will disappear before I get round to picking some for Christmas decorations! But I welcome these beautiful birds into the garden, about the size of thrushes , they love to peck at the fallen apples, alongside the moorhens from the pond. The jackdaws are much more likely to attack the apples in situ on the tree which is a bit annoying!
You can help winter migrant birds and winter wildlife in your own garden. Plant shrubs and small trees (or trees that can be kept small through pruning), including:
- native: dogwood, alder buckthorn, purging buckthorn, guelder rose, spindle, crab apple, rowan (grows rather large), hawthorn
- non-native: Berberis cultivars, other species of rowan (ones such as Joseph Rock and Sorbus vilmorinii tend to be much smaller than native rowan), other species of hawthorn, other types of crab apple.
Birds tend to go for red and black berries first, so those shrubs or small trees with yellow, pink or white berries can hold onto berries later into the winter when winter migrants might be forced into gardens by cold weather – and that's where the non-native rowans and crab apples come into their own. will
You can also put out food and water and make spaces for insects to hibernate. Plus use the winter to carry out work that will help next year's summer migrant birds – put up swift nest boxes and house martin cups, and dig a pond.
BIrds are part of your pest prevention scheme, instead of using pesticides., so make sure you attract as many as possible!
Photograph: RSPB: Ben Andrew Fieldfare.