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Kate Humble: May 2010
It's an exciting time in the garden at the moment. Everything is starting to grow and wildlife is going about its business of trying to breed.
Birdsong can be deafening and the colours and smells of the flowers are gorgeous.
Spring has definately sprung and there's no better time to get some earth under your fingernails and some air in your lungs.
A good way to add more splashes of colour is to put bedding and herbaceous plants in your borders.
These can be picked up for minimum cost in all garden centres and if you're not sure which ones are native and the best for wildlife, ask a member of staff or visit the RSPB's Homes for Wildlife website for information at www.rspb.org.uk/hfw.
Remember to use peat free compost to plant them which is much better for the environment.
Once they're in, you can sit back and relax watching all the different bees, hoverflies, butterflies and other insects that come to drink the nectar of these plants.
Making homes and providing nectar for insects and other invertebrates are important food for baby birds as well as local hedgehogs and amphibians.
It's important that we keep putting out traditional food for birds at this time too.
Consider that you will be feeding hungry chicks as well as adult birds for the next few weeks so if you put out leftovers in addition to seed mixes, make sure they are broken down into small pieces that will fit in tiny mouths!
It's best to avoid peanuts during the breeding season as they are a little too big and can be difficult to digest.
As chicks start to hatch, it's imperative that you ignore your human instinct to help them, no matter how vulnerable they look or the racket they are making.
Their parents won't be far away and your intervention could do more harm than good. By providing them with food, water and shelter, you will already be playing your part.
Keep an eye out for our summer visitors from Africa making their big push north. Thousands of birds head into Northern Europe, including Britain, to breed.
You could be lucky enough to see weary travellers like chiff chaffs, willow warblers or blackcaps stop off briefly at your cafe to feed and take a rest.
If they do, that's a sure sign that you're doing everything right!
Kate
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Weather for Belper
Wednesday 08 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -4 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: -1 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South west
