| Wildlife gardens are a compromise between wilderness and what we think of conventionally as a garden: an area of ground that provides us with leisure, pleasure and food. Specialcats is set in a garden which in addition to the above, is also managed to attract wildlife. Destructive pesticides and herbicides would be inappropriate, so it is managed as a Permaculture plot with minimal digging, much mulching and permanent plantings to replicate a forest ecosystem. Apple, plum, quince and cherry trees co-exist along with native species of trees. | ||||
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The trees are under-planted with soft fruit bushes, nut trees and cane-fruit. There is also a layer of herbs, flowers and grasses that are variously cut to leave refuges for toads and voles and as food-plants for insect larvae. Piles of logs and stones also offer hiding places for animals. You will see docken and nettle left as caterpillar fodder (our hens like them too) and thistles and teasels cultivated to provide seedheads to attract siskins and goldfinches. Teasels also provide nectar for butterflies whilst their leaves provide drinking pools for other insects and birds. Other flowers like crocus, Centaurea (hardheads) and mint favour our bees that provide us with their surplus honey to use and sell. | |||
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| The honeybees also pollinate the fruit crops, enjoyed by customers, wildlife visitors and us. In fact the railway branch line adjacent appears to be acting as an extension of the garden now as fruit and flower seeds are spread by the birds, squirrels and voles. We have a complete food chain here in that a kestrel, tawny owls and weasels can all be seen hunting here. | ||||
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The copious amount of cover and regular feeding means that 52 species of bird are now seen here regularly and many interesting insects fly about the cattery, sometimes pursued by bats. So no, it is not a tidy garden but it is surely an interesting place to be for both cats and people. If you can only be as still, and watch and listen as do our feline guests, there is much to see, as many owners can also affirm. | |||
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Click on the gallery to see more photos from the garden |
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