Page 58 • The HERALD • 9th March 2023 v THE NEXT HERALD IS OUT ON 30TH MARCH v 07879 552227 www.crowngardensandlandscapes.co.uk info@crowngardensandlandscapes.co.uk A family run business with over 20 years experience. Our teams of professional, friendly and reliable Gardeners and Landscapers are passionate about gardening and landscaping to very high standards of presentation and quality workmanship. Garden Maintenance Leaf Clearance Spring Tidy Up Hedges Borders Weeds Pressure Washing Landscaping Design Patios Artificial Lawns Decking Fencing Garden Repairs Your specialist Landscape and Garden Maintenance service, based in Hythe. Here to support the design, creation and maintenance of your perfect and personal outdoor space. SPADEWORK Family Landscaping & Fencing Team ] Decking & Natural Sandstone Paving ] Patios ] Driveways ] Block Paving ] Turfing ] All Types of Domestic & Commercial Fencing ] Security Fencing Supplied & Fitted Tel: (023) 8089 4909 Mobile: 07703 566814 u Free Estimates u Fully Insured ✿ DOWN THE GARDEN PATH ✿ Looking After Bats Through the Seasons Advice from Bat Conservation Trust and The Wildlife Trust Here’s a handy guide to the small actions you can take throughout the year to support the stars of the night in your garden or green space: Spring • Plant nectar-rich plants, trees and shrubs for example lungwort, primrose, honesty and wall ower. • Build a pond or water feature. • Join a local Bat Group to nd out more about bats in your area. Summer • Count the bats near your home as part of the National Bat Monitoring Programme (NBMP) and help to gather important data. • Create a compost bin, the perfect habitat for some of the bat’s insect prey. • Buy yourself a bat detector and get listening to their pips and squeaks. Find out if you have a bat visitor. • Keep cats indoors from an hour before sunset, when bats emerge from their roosts. • Plant nectar-rich plants, including corncockle, fennel, knapweed, lavender, red campion, sea holly, scabious and ox-eye daisy. Autumn • Put up bat boxes for next year’s roost. Ensure that you never disturb a bat box once its up. All bat species and their roosts are now legally protected. • Plant new trees and shrubs including buddleia, common honeysuckle, crab apple, dog rose, hawthorn, hazel and ivy. • Do a spot of bat watching at a ‘bat haven’ close to you. For hints on where to watch for bats go to the Big Bat Map www.bigbatmap.org Add your own sightings too to help others enjoy your discoveries. Winter • Leave hollow stems for overwintering insects. • When winter pruning trees be aware of any hollow cavities or potential roosting sites and ensure these are not disturbed. All year round: Which flowers attract most insects? Look at the owers in your garden to see which ones are most attractive to insects. Look at other gardens to see which owers are in bloom at di erent times. is will be a help in planning the best way to attract insects throughout the year. If you’re unsure, you can also use this list to help you to choose insect-attracting plants: rhs.org.uk/ perfectforpollinators What do I do if I find a grounded bat? Any bat that is found on the ground, especially during the day, is likely to need help. Contain in a box using gloves or a so cloth and call the Bat Helpline 0345 1300 228 for further advice. Be an ambassador for bats Tell other people what amazing animals bats are. Share the ideas in this guide to help people make their gardens and green spaces more bat-friendly. Bat watch! Not sure where to go to see bats? Take a look at our top reserves to spot these ying mammals: wtru.st/see-bats The Layered Garden Using Bulbs, Annuals & Biennials Bartley Horticultural Society’s next meeting is on Thursday 16th March for a talk by Agnes Piaseczna titled ‘ e Layered Garden Using Bulbs, Annuals & Biennials’. On Thursday 20th April for a practical evening – Container Planting. Meetings take place on the third Thursday of the month at Copythorne Parish Hall, Pollards Moor Road, Copythorne SO40 2NT at 7.30pm. New members and visitors are always welcome. Visitors fee applies. For more information you can write to them at: Mavis Cottage, Pollards Moor Road, Copythorne, SO40 2NZ, call: 07789 352505 or visit their website: www. bartleyhs.org.uk
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