Natural BEAUTY

A thriving garden is full of the sight and sounds of wildlife – of the dawn chorus, bees humming, butterflies fluttering and any number of mysterious nocturnal scuttlings and rustlings. A welcoming garden is one that provides safe habitats to rest, nest or hibernate; water sources, and abundant supplies of nectar-rich plants to feed on. In spring, nectar is essential for providing butterflies and moths with the energy to refuel after hibernation and find a mate, while in autumn it helps build up their reserves before hibernation or migrating back to warmer climes. Honeybees, on the other hand, collect nectar and pollen as food for the entire colony of the hive and, almost as a by-product, pollinate flowers in the process.

In recent years, the decline of butterflies and bees has come into sharp focus – one third of the bee population of the UK has