Advice for Carmarthenshire gardeners
Green-fingered Carmarthenshire people are being asked to garden in a wildlife-friendly way.
The county’s biodiversity partnership is encouraging gardeners to make a pledge to help wildlife this summer.
The council’s biodiversity officer Isabel Macho said: “Gardens can support a wealth of wildlife. Over recent years gardens have become increasingly important habitats for wildlife, including for many species now rare in the wider countryside.
“Gardens can also be important wildlife corridors. In our towns, a large proportion of available wildlife habitat is provided by gardens, which are the 'green lungs' of our urban environment.
“Some species found in our gardens can help us out - hedgehogs are natural slug control, ladybirds prey on aphids, worms improve our soil and bees and flies help pollinate our fruit, vegetables and flowers.
“Some gardening practices however may be harmful for wildlife. Over use of pesticides and fertilisers, over-tidying of gardens, drainage of ponds and use of peat can all have a harmful effect. However, taking simple action means that we can all garden in a wildlife-friendly way.
“Avoiding chemical fertilisers, using peat alternatives, providing food, shelter and water for birds and planting some native species in borders are all ways in which we can help wildlife in our gardens.”
Visit the Carmarthenshire Biodiversity website (www.carmarthenshirebiodiversity.co.uk) to make a pledge online or download pledge and survey forms.
The county’s biodiversity partnership is encouraging gardeners to make a pledge to help wildlife this summer.
The council’s biodiversity officer Isabel Macho said: “Gardens can support a wealth of wildlife. Over recent years gardens have become increasingly important habitats for wildlife, including for many species now rare in the wider countryside.
“Gardens can also be important wildlife corridors. In our towns, a large proportion of available wildlife habitat is provided by gardens, which are the 'green lungs' of our urban environment.
“Some species found in our gardens can help us out - hedgehogs are natural slug control, ladybirds prey on aphids, worms improve our soil and bees and flies help pollinate our fruit, vegetables and flowers.
“Some gardening practices however may be harmful for wildlife. Over use of pesticides and fertilisers, over-tidying of gardens, drainage of ponds and use of peat can all have a harmful effect. However, taking simple action means that we can all garden in a wildlife-friendly way.
“Avoiding chemical fertilisers, using peat alternatives, providing food, shelter and water for birds and planting some native species in borders are all ways in which we can help wildlife in our gardens.”
Visit the Carmarthenshire Biodiversity website (www.carmarthenshirebiodiversity.co.uk) to make a pledge online or download pledge and survey forms.
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