https://gardenandgossip.org/ Wed, 08 Apr 2026 22:41:42 +0000 MyBB https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2464 Fri, 27 Mar 2026 13:55:32 +0000 Small chilli]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2464
I’ve just started again. We used to feed them at the old place. Now most of the big noisy work is done. I thought it was about time we started. 

How & what do you feed ? Hanging feeders, bird table, ground.? 

I’ve got 2 hanging feeders, 1 seed, 1 peanuts. 4 fat feeders, 3 different types. Also one homemade feeder with wool in for nesting material. They get one handful of mealworms a day as well. They go on top of the big rock in the garden. 


  20260327_124907_Original.jpeg (Size: 191.3 KB / Downloads: 3)

I plan on having a bird table at some point. But it’ll probably be a homemade unique piece. It’s still in the planning stages. 

I buy my seed from here https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/MaltbysS...BNAZ4QHQD0
I get the 15kg bags . I’ve brought enough half coconuts fat feeders now that I can refill them with homemade fat feed. A mix of seed, mealworms & chopped currants .

What species do you see the most of? Mine is definitely the chaffinches 

Finally how often do you clean your feeders? 
I brush any stuck stuff off every time I refill. Going to try to be good and clean monthly.]]>
I’ve just started again. We used to feed them at the old place. Now most of the big noisy work is done. I thought it was about time we started. 

How & what do you feed ? Hanging feeders, bird table, ground.? 

I’ve got 2 hanging feeders, 1 seed, 1 peanuts. 4 fat feeders, 3 different types. Also one homemade feeder with wool in for nesting material. They get one handful of mealworms a day as well. They go on top of the big rock in the garden. 


  20260327_124907_Original.jpeg (Size: 191.3 KB / Downloads: 3)

I plan on having a bird table at some point. But it’ll probably be a homemade unique piece. It’s still in the planning stages. 

I buy my seed from here https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/MaltbysS...BNAZ4QHQD0
I get the 15kg bags . I’ve brought enough half coconuts fat feeders now that I can refill them with homemade fat feed. A mix of seed, mealworms & chopped currants .

What species do you see the most of? Mine is definitely the chaffinches 

Finally how often do you clean your feeders? 
I brush any stuck stuff off every time I refill. Going to try to be good and clean monthly.]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2459 Mon, 09 Mar 2026 19:24:36 +0000 Veggie]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2459
https://butterfly-conservation.org/news-...ss-england]]>
https://butterfly-conservation.org/news-...ss-england]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2457 Thu, 05 Mar 2026 14:58:44 +0000 Veggie]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2457 https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/le...ies-guide/

https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/le...umblebees/]]> https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/le...ies-guide/

https://www.bumblebeeconservation.org/le...umblebees/]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2414 Mon, 12 Jan 2026 11:20:31 +0000 Small chilli]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2414 https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/c...assessment

If anyone wants to spare 15 minutes 

I found it quite interesting.]]> https://app.onlinesurveys.jisc.ac.uk/s/c...assessment

If anyone wants to spare 15 minutes 

I found it quite interesting.]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2410 Thu, 01 Jan 2026 23:01:52 +0000 Veggie]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2410 https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2357 Sun, 15 Jun 2025 14:24:34 +0000 JJB]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2357 https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2323 Fri, 07 Mar 2025 21:22:14 +0000 Veggie]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2323 I came across this advice on how to attract hoverflies to the garden:-

"Attract adults by planting appropriate flower-rich habitats, but they will only remain if suitable densities of aphid prey are available. Hoverflies feed on the flowers of annual arable plants (such as cornflower, chickweed, knotweeds and shepherd’s purse) and hedgerow plants (wild carrot, cow parsley, hogweed and white campion). In addition, flower strips can be established specifically for hoverflies in and around fields containing coriander, buckwheat, phacelia or alyssum." 
https://ahdb.org.uk/knowledge-library/id...ield-crops

I have lots of coriander seeds which I won't be growing (as I don't like it) and I'm sure I have phacelia and alyssum too. So my plan is to mix them up and sow a "flower strip" near the veg patch. There's cow parsley & hogweed already, though I'd happily get rid of the hogweed! Sorry hoverflies.

More info at https://www.rhs.org.uk/biodiversity/hoverflies]]> I came across this advice on how to attract hoverflies to the garden:-

"Attract adults by planting appropriate flower-rich habitats, but they will only remain if suitable densities of aphid prey are available. Hoverflies feed on the flowers of annual arable plants (such as cornflower, chickweed, knotweeds and shepherd’s purse) and hedgerow plants (wild carrot, cow parsley, hogweed and white campion). In addition, flower strips can be established specifically for hoverflies in and around fields containing coriander, buckwheat, phacelia or alyssum." 
https://ahdb.org.uk/knowledge-library/id...ield-crops

I have lots of coriander seeds which I won't be growing (as I don't like it) and I'm sure I have phacelia and alyssum too. So my plan is to mix them up and sow a "flower strip" near the veg patch. There's cow parsley & hogweed already, though I'd happily get rid of the hogweed! Sorry hoverflies.

More info at https://www.rhs.org.uk/biodiversity/hoverflies]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2315 Thu, 13 Feb 2025 09:08:08 +0000 Small chilli]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2315 https://butterfly-conservation.org/join-the-dark-side]]> https://butterfly-conservation.org/join-the-dark-side]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2227 Fri, 20 Sep 2024 22:38:58 +0000 Veggie]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2227 The details of the count are at https://butterfly-conservation.org/news-...45bdf23bce

I plan to grow more Butterfly flowers and food plants next year to do my bit for butterflies. 

This page has info on the best plants to grow https://butterfly-conservation.org/how-y...utterflies

The best plants for nectar are:-
Buddleia
Verbena Bonariensis
Lavender
Perennial wallflower (Bowles Mauve)
Marjoram/Oregano

There's a more detailed list of plants to download and a list of food plants. 

This is going to be one of my projects for 2025. Will you join me?]]> The details of the count are at https://butterfly-conservation.org/news-...45bdf23bce

I plan to grow more Butterfly flowers and food plants next year to do my bit for butterflies. 

This page has info on the best plants to grow https://butterfly-conservation.org/how-y...utterflies

The best plants for nectar are:-
Buddleia
Verbena Bonariensis
Lavender
Perennial wallflower (Bowles Mauve)
Marjoram/Oregano

There's a more detailed list of plants to download and a list of food plants. 

This is going to be one of my projects for 2025. Will you join me?]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2214 Sun, 01 Sep 2024 15:01:28 +0000 Veggie]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2214
  seotbutterflies.jpg (Size: 42.86 KB / Downloads: 13)

Your September Butterfly spotting challenge has arrived. ]]>
  seotbutterflies.jpg (Size: 42.86 KB / Downloads: 13)

Your September Butterfly spotting challenge has arrived. ]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2211 Thu, 29 Aug 2024 08:13:00 +0000 Small chilli]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2211  .
Anyway while sat in a bus shelter in the middle of nowhere      
  20240828_092048_Original.jpeg (Size: 68.18 KB / Downloads: 10) I had some visitors.


  20240828_094040_Original.jpeg (Size: 104.93 KB / Downloads: 10)  
  20240828_094214_Original.jpeg (Size: 330.91 KB / Downloads: 12)  
  20240828_094553_Original.jpeg (Size: 137.79 KB / Downloads: 11)  
  20240828_094417_Original.jpeg (Size: 113.76 KB / Downloads: 10) Road signs are excellent scratching posts.

The rest of the herd was a bit further up the road causing chaos with the traffic as they do every day. 

  20240828_094605_Original.jpeg (Size: 139.5 KB / Downloads: 11)  
Actually it’s not the cows that cause the problem it’s all the tourists that stop their cars in the middle of the road to photograph them that cause the problems.]]>  .
Anyway while sat in a bus shelter in the middle of nowhere      
  20240828_092048_Original.jpeg (Size: 68.18 KB / Downloads: 10) I had some visitors.


  20240828_094040_Original.jpeg (Size: 104.93 KB / Downloads: 10)  
  20240828_094214_Original.jpeg (Size: 330.91 KB / Downloads: 12)  
  20240828_094553_Original.jpeg (Size: 137.79 KB / Downloads: 11)  
  20240828_094417_Original.jpeg (Size: 113.76 KB / Downloads: 10) Road signs are excellent scratching posts.

The rest of the herd was a bit further up the road causing chaos with the traffic as they do every day. 

  20240828_094605_Original.jpeg (Size: 139.5 KB / Downloads: 11)  
Actually it’s not the cows that cause the problem it’s all the tourists that stop their cars in the middle of the road to photograph them that cause the problems.]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2205 Mon, 12 Aug 2024 08:32:18 +0000 JJB]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2205 https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2204 Sun, 04 Aug 2024 10:00:26 +0000 Veggie]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2204 Apparently, there aren't as many as usual....

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c134621devzoaround]]> Apparently, there aren't as many as usual....

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c134621devzoaround]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2201 Thu, 01 Aug 2024 11:06:53 +0000 Veggie]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2201
  august butterflies.jpg (Size: 37.1 KB / Downloads: 18)

Your August Butterfly spotting Challenge is here.

I saw a Gatekeeper yesterday - wonder if its still in the GH?]]>
  august butterflies.jpg (Size: 37.1 KB / Downloads: 18)

Your August Butterfly spotting Challenge is here.

I saw a Gatekeeper yesterday - wonder if its still in the GH?]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2172 Fri, 07 Jun 2024 21:27:07 +0000 Veggie]]> https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.php?tid=2172
  butterfly june.jpg (Size: 46.65 KB / Downloads: 22)

Your Challenge for June is to spot all of these butterflies & Moths!]]>
  butterfly june.jpg (Size: 46.65 KB / Downloads: 22)

Your Challenge for June is to spot all of these butterflies & Moths!]]>