come on birds - free food!

Hardest winter in decades, and the birds are heading townwards for food. Just not, so far, to FuFWiG - the bird feeder I put out at the weekend doesn't seem to have attracted any interest. Maybe they don't care for nyjer seeds?

Undaunted, we plan to have a bird box or two up soon as well.

FuFWiG's fame spreads!

Gavin and Annie were interviewed about the wildlife garden and the rest of the church's Green Group work, on this morning's Inspirit with Jumoke Fashola on BBC Radio London.

You can listen again via the web page for another seven days. The first segment, 1:36:00 in, is a bit hissy, the second, at 2:07:30, rather better - in fact you can even hear some occasional birdsong in the background.

latest FuFWiG resident

Well she may not add greatly to the habitat value of the garden, but she does impart a certain old-world charm, don't you think?

it's Tree O'Clock in the garden

As part of the BBC's Tree O'Clock attempt on the world simultaneous tree-planting record on Saturday 5 December, four of us bulked up the perimeter hedge with a further 37 native trees - courtesy of Adrian Hall Garden Centre and The Natural History Museum wildlife garden.

We'll find out shortly if the attempt was successful.

welcoming the wet

It's a bumper year for spiders, and a appropriately we have a cross garden spider in the church's garden.

They like the wet, and so hopefully will our new plantings - mostly bulbs, a few perennials (both from wild seed and dug out of gardens) and shrubs.

Out of curiosity I tried germinating the red campion seed in a seed tray first. As I knew I'd forget to water them, I added some cheap water-retaining gel. Seems to have worked - the photo shows a seedling three months after sowing.

FuFWiG hits the headlines!

Don't be too quick to put your Council-issue h&f news into your Council-issue Smart Sack this week - for there on p.20 is a very nice half-page report on the wildlife garden.

Thanks Magda - I like the "beetles banish yobs" angle!

Next FuFWiG event - bulb planting!

Here's a good one if you're interested in the whole wildlife garden thing but find the subject a bit daunting, or don't fancy doing loads of hard work, or are worried about doing it all wrong.

Bulb planting is easy (even young children can do it), quick, and you get to admire your handiwork every spring from then on. But although most bulbs bloom in spring (certainly all the ones we'll be planting), the time to plant them is autumn.

We've set a date of Saturday 3rd October from 10 till 11 in the morning for the work. If you can provide your own trowel that would help greatly. Please get in touch beforehand to say you're coming, so I know how many to expect.

Thanks, and see you there.