Wild About Gardens Newsletter Febuary 2012

			This is a time of year when things start to stir and wake. Frogs may begin spawning, hedgehogs emerge from hibernation and birds look for mates. The exact timings will depend on the weather and where you are in the UK.
	Make sure you have a wealth of densely growing plants around part of the pond. A log pile nearby will give both cover and attract slugs and snails which the frogs – and hedgehogs - can eat. Hedgehogs naturally forage for beetles, worms and other invertebrates. Ideal habitats include grass and piles of leaves. If you want to supplement their diet, put out dogfood. Ponds can be lethal to hedgehogs, so give them an escape route – a ramp or a piece of chicken wire hanging over the edge will enable them to climb out
	Things to do Things get busy now, and there’s lots you can do. Plant trees or shrubs for extra structure, cover and colour. Now is a good time to prepare the ground for a wildflower meadow. Think bird – put up a birdbox, put out birdfood, and keep the birdbath clean and topped up.
	Things to spot Toad Butterfly Dunnocks Toads emerge from hibernation later this month, and will make the hazardous journey back to their ancestral pond. Males will often already have a female in their grip and in effect ‘hitch a ride’ back to the pond. Butterflies , like brimstone and peacocks, may be seen anytime from now on. Butterflies need particular plants for their caterpillars. You can help by planting a butterfly larder. Keep an eye out for dunnocks in your garden. They can be mistaken for a sparrow, but their brown and grey markings are beautiful.