Wildlife in a pot

Most wildlife is remarkably mobile. Seeds have many mechanisms to travel far and wide, birds and many insects can fly so don't think that because you have a concrete patch or balcony that nothing will visit you - there's plenty of ideas in this leaflet to make your patch the most attractive in the neighbourhood!

Mobile creatures need food and water! A small tub of open water, topped up regularly, is enough for birds to bathe in and insects to drink from, and they are just as fascinating to watch as the inhabitants of larger ponds are. A few nuts and seed will also attract some feathered visitors, even in a block of flats!

In a small space, hanging baskets provide a wonderful display. You can plant trailing herbs to add fragrance to your patio or balcony, flavour to your dinner and interest to your view - many butterflies are attracted to certain herbs. You can also use hanging baskets to attract butterflies by using species such as birds foot trefoil.

Meadow species can easily be grown in containers, particularly the annual cornfield species. Again, they are excellent for attracting butterflies and other beautiful insects and flower for much longer periods than many pot grown plants. They also need less water which is always a bonus.

Climbers and trained fruit trees also take up very little space and can be grown successfully from pots. They need a little maintenance annually and provide an interesting habitat for birds, butterflies and many other species.

Leave some fruit out for birds over winter, either on the tree or, when it is all fallen off, on the bird table.

Shady patches can also be interesting wildlife areas. Look out for native ferns, which come in a variety of shapes and sizes as well as traditional woodland species such as: snowdrop, herb robert, common violet, nettle leaved bellflower, wild strawberry, bluebell, bugle, columbine, foxglove, great woodrush, lily of the valley, and primrose.

The important point is to use your imagination - use a shelf for a bird table and create miniature habitats in pots.

Top Tips for Gardening in pots

1. Features such as meadows don't have to be huge to attract species such as butterflies - don't be put off by the size of your patio/balcony, remember its not always size that counts - especially if you persuade your neighbours to do their bit too!
2. All animals need water - make sure you keep a shallow bowl of water for birds to bathe in and perhaps a deeper pot of water with water plants in such as yellow iris.
3. Provide a variety of habitats if possible - a little shade, a sunny spot, a watery area. Lots of variety in a small space will attract a greater variety of animals for you to enjoy.
4. Use peat free compost in all of your pots - the lowland bogs and moorlands of Britain and Ireland are suffering greatly due to the gardening industry. Think about the wider picture of conservation in Britain whilst creating your own living garden. (See leaflet 8 for more information, including alternatives to peat)
5. Don't be afraid to experiment - and then write tell us about your highlights! We can spread tips to other gardeners through the UWP newsletter.