Create your own nature reserve
Rare plants, exotic trees, stunning sculptures – money can purchase all these things but it can’t buy wildlife. This is what makes creating your own
Simple habitat management will work wonders. Many species, such as thrushes and green woodpeckers, like mown lawns but areas of rough (not overgrown) grass will harbour voles and mice, which in turn will attract owls and kestrels. Nectar-bearing plants such as lavenders and verbena are great for insects, while buddleia might not be native but butterflies love it. If you are going to plant trees, opt for natives such as rowan, bird cherry and hawthorn, or, if you have the space, oak and beech.
What your new reserve will almost certainly lack is sufficient nesting sites for the birds you are going to attract. This is an easy problem to solve, as in recent years the nest-box business has become increasingly high-tech, with dedicated boxes for particular species made from modern, durable materials. You can even install close-circuit television to see how the occupants are getting on. private wildlife
