Page 64 • The HERALD • 22nd August 2024 v THE HERALD - SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES v Gardening Maintenance, Grass Cutting, Garden Clearance, Hedge Cutting, Weeding & Pruning Offering Professional & Reilable services at reasonable price No Job is Too Small HARRIS MULTISERVICES Contact Jason on 07922 543669 for a Free Quote COVERING SOUTHAMPTON AND NEW FOREST • Patios • Turf • Fencing • Artificial lawns • Decking • Garden structures • Driveways • Clearances • Brickwork • Jet-washing Call now on 07961 234448 to sow the seeds for your new outside living space or email: honeysucklelandscapes1@gmail.com See our previous work at: www.honeysucklelandscapes.com • Patios • Decking • Turfing/Astro • Fencing/Gates • Outbuildings • All aspects of Gardening • Pergolas and all timber frame work • Sheds • Beach Huts 07593 423276 • www.heronslandscaping.co.uk cameron@heronslandscaping.co.uk ✿ DOWN THE GARDEN PATH ✿ Five Ways to Help Birds in Every Season Information from RHS e UK’s birds are in trouble, and they need our help. By following these easy steps to provide for birds yearround from RSPB expert Adrian omas, you and your garden can make a di erence. e 2023 State of Nature report found that a sobering 43% of all UK bird species are at risk of being lost over the coming decades – the highest gure of any animal group. Gardens can be a valuable refuge for many birds, and in turn, being able to watch them brings us joy and boost our own wellbeing. To give our feathered friends a helping hand, follow these ve simple steps for each season, with top tips from RSPB wildlife gardening expert Adrian omas. “Supplementing food is one way to help, but our gardens can provide more for birds if it’s been designed, planted and maintained to provide a healthy menu and happy home all year round” - Adrian omas, RSPB wildlife gardening expert. How to help birds in autumn 1. Relax with the deadheading and allow some late owers of plants such as Echinacea, Rudbeckia and Cosmos to go to seed to provide for birds through winter. ese will also provide hibernacula for insects, as well as looking beautiful in winter frosts. 2. Don’t remove all your fallen leaves – when raking leaves o lawns, leave some piles under bushes where birds will be able to ick though them during winter, looking for hibernating invertebrates. 3. Leave some windfall apples scattered on the lawn to cater for ground-feeding winter visitors such as redwings and eldfares. 4. Plant a tree. In a small garden, choose something slow-growing or that can be easily kept small by pruning. A tree provides a safe hideout for birds, nesting sites, and a high point to sing from, and the bark hosts invertebrates for birds such as nuthatches to nd. 5. Clean nest boxes by removing old nests so that they are ready to provide a nighttime refuge for birds when the weather turns cold. “Adding a tree can be transformative for birds. They offer a useful ladder by which birds can safely drop, rung by rung, to explore the garden below” - Adrian omas Birds to spot in autumn Jay • Long-tailed tit • Cha nch “The more plants and habitats you include in your outside space, the more you’re playing your part in ensuring our threatened and precious garden birds have a future” - Adrian omas. Jay Long Tailed Tit Chaffinch Container Planting Hythe Flower Club Meeting Bartley Horticultural Society’s next meeting is on Thursday 19th September for Container Planting. Meetings take place on the third Thursday of the month at Copythorne Parish Hall, Pollards Moor Road, Copythorne SO40 2NW 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 Hythe Flower Club’s next meeting is Thursday 12th September. ey meet on the 2nd Thursday of the month except August at Hythe and Dibden Parish Hall, West Street, Hythe. 6.45pm for 7.30pm. One years membership is £36 (for 11 meetings). Good value for an evening of entertainment (probably less than a cup of co ee). Go along and visit their friendly inclusive Flower Club, you will receive a warm welcome.
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