Hedgehog in grass © Richard Burkmar
The Dorset Wildlife Trust (DWT) ‘Go wild in your garden’ event, in partnership with Haskins Garden Centre in Ferndown, will be held on Monday 27 October, to help local people to learn about wildlife friendly gardening.
This event is part of The Great Heath Living Landscape, which aims to connect urban wild spaces in Dorset to help garden wildlife, such as hedgehogs, birds and vital pollinators.
DWT Great Heath Conservation Officer, Katie Wilkinson, said, “This event aims to encourage people to get out in their gardens or local green spaces, and utilise that space for their own enjoyment and for the benefit of wildlife. DWT’s ‘Make Wildlife Welcome’ campaign has also just been launched, so this event is helping to spread the word that there are things to be done in a wildlife garden all year round.”
Activities for children will include making bug hotels and bird feeders from recycled materials, and face painting. Wildlife experts will be on hand to give advice and information on how to start gardening for wildlife, or to talk about new ideas and tips for more experienced gardeners.
The ‘Go wild in your garden’ promotion follows Haskin’s donation of £5000 to support DWT’s Great Heath project. Matt Hill, General Manager at the Haskins Garden Centre, said, “DWT’s promotion to homeowners of the need to encourage wildlife to flourish will be immediately recognised by many of our customers. We want to help spread the message to Go Wild in the garden! Many already plant to encourage bees and Butterflies as well as other insects that help to create a food chain that in turn encourages birds and mammals.”
Go wild in your garden is a free event to attend from 9am – 3pm on Monday 27 October at the Haskins Garden Centre, Ferndown (BH22 9DG). Suggested donation for activities, £3. For more information, phone 01202 692033 or visit www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/go-wild-in-your-garden.
To find out more about how to ‘Make Wildlife Welcome’ for just £3 a month with Dorset Wildlife Trust, and receive a free book, ‘The Wildlife Gardener’ by Kate Bradbury, visit www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/mww
Redpoll birds on a bird feeder © Ken Dolbear, MBE
