Snowdrop magic

Snowdrop (Galanthus)

We are not the only ones drawn to the beautiful snowdrops hiding in the hedgerow. This hoverfly seeks much-needed nectar and pollen in the cold winter months as do many early insects. Hibernating insects, such as bumblebees and butterflies, emerge as soon as the weather warms, desperate to feed.

After the recent report on the frightening forecast of the demise of the world’s insect numbers, and the devastating repercussion this will have on the planet’s ecosystems, we owe it to ourselves to learn more about how we can help our insect friends to recover.

Best practice
I believe one of our worst hindrances to better practice is our mental need to apply the ‘neat and tidy’ approach to our outside spaces.

In my work, I am constantly asked to manicure the lawns and borders, tidy and burn leaf piles, remove cut branches, and generally produce a sterile living room-like environment outside.

Let’s learn to look at the beauty of wildflower meadows and ordered debris piles as something to cherish. If you are looking for a bird in late winter, notice how they congregate around the leaf litter and the long grass, diving into the cover of your log and branch pile, feeding on the endless supply of insects to be found there. If you’re lucky a hedgehog sleeps there for the winter.

As for the insects, none of the above, including us, will live to enjoy the future without them. Please watch the video below to find out more.

 

More on the loss of our insects
The global review, published in the journal ‘Biological Conservation’ last week, stated that the world was witnessing the “largest extinction event on Earth” for millions of years, in the face of habitat loss, pesticides, disease and invasive species, and climate change.

https://www.eadt.co.uk/business/suffolk-wildlife-trust-reacts-to-report-on-decline-of-insect-numbers-1-5894812

The world’s insects are hurtling down the path to extinction, threatening a “catastrophic collapse of nature’s ecosystems”, according to the first global scientific review.

More than 40% of insect species are declining, and a third are endangered, the analysis found. The rate of extinction is eight times faster than that of mammals, birds and reptiles. The total mass of insects is falling by a precipitous 2.5% a year, according to the best data available, suggesting they could vanish within a century.

The planet is at the start of a sixth mass extinction in its history, with huge losses already reported in larger animals that are easier to study. But insects are by far the most varied and abundant animals, outweighing humanity by 17 times. They are “essential” for the proper functioning of all ecosystems, the researchers say, as food for other creatures, pollinators and recyclers of nutrients.

“Unless we change our ways of producing food, insects as a whole will go down the path of extinction in a few decades,” they write. “The repercussions this will have for the planet’s ecosystems are catastrophic to say the least.”

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/feb/10/plummeting-insect-numbers-threaten-collapse-of-nature

Plants and flowers that can help in the winter and early spring
December/February onwards:

  • Muscari Neglectum (grape hyacinth)
  • Clematis cirrhosa (Spanish traveller’s joy)
  • Crocus (winter-flowering)
  • Eranthis hyemalis (winter aconite)
  • Galanthus nivalis (common snowdrop)
  • Helleborus species and hybrids hellebore (winter-flowering)
  • Lonicera purpusii (purpus honeysuckle)
  • Mahonia species (oregon grape)
  • Salix aegyptiaca (musk willow)
  • Sarcococca confusa (sweet box)

March/April onwards:

  • Acer campestre (native field maple)
  • Aubrieta
  • Berberis thunbergii (Japanese barberry)
  • Bergenia species (elephant ear)
  • Buxus sempervirens (native plant; common box)
  • Caltha palustris (native plant; marsh marigold)
  • Ceanothus species (California lilac)
  • Cercis siliquastrum (Judas tree)
  • Chaenomeles species (Japanese quince)
  • Cornus mas (Cornelian cherry)
  • Cotoneaster conspicuous (Tibetan cotoneaster)
  • Crataegus monogyna (native plant; common hawthorn)
  • Crocus (spring-flowering)
  • Erica carnea (alpine heath)
  • Euphorbia amygdaloides (native plant; wood spurge)
  • Geranium species (cranesbill)
  • Hebe species
  • Helleborus species & hybrids hellebore (spring-flowering)
  • Iberis sempervirens (perennial candytuft)
  • Ilex aquifolium (native plant; common holly)
  • Lamium maculatum (spotted dead nettle)
  • Mahonia species (oregon grape, spring-flowering)
  • Malus domestica (edible apple)
  • Primula veris (common cowslip)
  • Primula vulgaris (native plant; primrose)
  • Prunus avium (native plant; wild & edible cherries)
  • Prunus domestic (wild & edible plums)
  • Prunus dulcis (almond)
  • Prunus padus (native plant; bird cherry)
  • Prunus spinosa (native plant; blackthorn)
  • Pyrus communis (pear)
  • Ribes nigrum (blackcurrant)
  • Ribes rubrum (native plant; common redcurrant)
  • Ribes sanguineum (flowering currant)
  • Salix caprea (native plant; goat willow)
  • Skimmia japonica (skimmia)

 

More advice and information
Much more advice and information can be found at: https://www.rhs.org.uk/science/conservation-biodiversity/plants-for-bugs/plants-for-bugs-results

Some fantastic PDF downloads with beneficial plant lists and general practice can be found here with thanks to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS): https://www.rhs.org.uk/science/conservation-biodiversity/wildlife/plants-for-pollinators

Please follow my future posts to study with me better ways to support insects in our gardens.

“At the beginning of all things when life was new, the Snow sought to borrow a colour. The flowers were much admired by all the elements but they guarded their colour’s jealousy and when the Snow pleaded with them, they turned their backs in contempt for they believed the Snow cold and unpleasant. The tiny humble snowdrops took pity on the Snow for none of the other flowers had shown it any kindness and so they came forth and offered up to the Snow their colour…
The Snow gratefully accepted and became white forevermore, just like the Snowdrops. In its gratitude, the Snow permitted the little pearly flowers the protection to appear in winter, to be impervious to the ice and bitter chill. From then on, the Snow and the Snowdrops coexisted side by side as friends.”
This wonderful folklore tale is recited beautifully with more fascinating insights at
http://www.creativecountryside.com/blog/the-folklore-of-snowdrops

Send me a message

Get in touch

floyd@arealgardener.co.uk

01588 630 265 (Home)

07932327262 (Mobile)

l

Bishops Castle, SY9 5PA

I usually respond to emails within 24 hours. The best time to call me is first thing or in the evening. Thank you.

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This