Thymus 1: Wildlife in the Garden

A family of long tailed tits feeding in bronze fennel August 2005 while I worked in the greenhouse. Long tailed tit families are regular visitors to the garden.

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A young thrush sitting on a pot of thyme, sheltered by a hyssop plant and waiting for its parent to feed it. Late July 2005. Thrushes are more efficient than blackbirds at dealing with slugs and snails and are very welcome in the garden!

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Blackbird feeding in Photinia davidiana 'Palette'

The Photinia davidiana 'Palette' in the front garden is now more than 10 feet (3m) tall. In the summer it is a mass of white flowers which the bees enjoy. In the winter it is a wonderful sight with its green, red and cream foliage and is covered in red berries. In February 2007, in a sudden cold spell with 3-4 inches (8-10 cm) of snow, up to 4 blackbirds at a time were busy feeding on the berries. Our birds rely on natural foodstuffs in the garden and it is great to have such a beautiful shrub which we can enjoy, but at the same time providing food for our feathered friends. There are many small shrubs with berries, suitable for small gardens, which will serve this purpose.

Page introduced June 2006, modified February 2007

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