Project Description

We were incredibly lucky to inherit a mature garden from the previous owners of our house, with a variety of shrubs creating hedges around the edge and lots of different plants. We always put out feeders for the birds and added new plants that pollinators would like as spaces became available, and last year started leaving areas of grass uncut. However, it was only really in the last few months that we learnt about new ways to encourage biodiversity in our garden.

Based on a hedgehog talk we attended, hosted by Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council, we learnt that hedgehogs need gaps to travel between gardens. Having a side wall between front and back garden meant this was a potential barrier, so I made a small gap in the bottom of the wall that hedgehogs could get through. I also made a hedgehog house from small logs and tree cuttings and placed this in the hedge out of sight. No visitors just yet but fingers crossed!

Gap in the wall

Hedgehog house

Based on the materials on the biodiversity project web page, I also dug out a space and created a log pile, and (a bit harder work but worth it!) built a pond. Again, early days on the pond and no water creatures yet, but the birds are loving it as a drinking spot and bird bath – nearly always around 5pm, like they are washing away the toils of a hard day’s feeding!

The new pond – early days!

As a bonus, the piles of earth that were formed from digging out the log pile and pond are being used by the birds as a dust bath, and apparently may be an attractive site for some bee species to form their own nest.

It is a real privilege being able to watch the wildlife enjoy our garden, and just these few extra steps have opened up a lot more potential for increased biodiversity.