I’ve been getting a few messages lately about unexpected (and sometimes unwanted) visitors in clients’ cosy gardens.
With the warmer, friendlier weather coming in, these little mates start showing up. It’s normal for them to come, and it’s actually a good sign when they do. You should probably start worrying if one day they stop coming at all … but there’s one visitor that’s been showing up a bit more lately and I’ll chat about that too…
The always-busy bees and ants (!!!!) might show up
bees especially are proper pollinators, and they’re super important for the whole ecosystem.
Butterflies bring amazing colours as well, on top of everything else.
Hedgehogs make an appearance too!
and to be fair, they do a brilliant job with pest control (natural and free), so if you’ve got one nearby, be happy and leave out a little bowl of water!
Frogs too
…. a lot of people don’t really like them but just like all the other animals, they’ve got their role. They’re great at controlling insects that could ruin your whole garden.
They’re usually quite shy and make a bit of noise. Bit harder to find in the bigger cities.
Now, let’s talk about the star of the post.
It’s been years since I’ve heard anyone mention them (I haven’t seen one myself in a good five years or more). It’s the slow worms… do you remember them?
I’m saying it like that ! past tense ! because they’re starting to show up more often now, but loads of people still haven’t seen them and I’m pretty sure it’s been a long time since you’ve spotted one too.
As you probably know, slow worms aren’t snakes …. they’re a type of legless lizard, and as towns grew and spread, they sort of just disappeared.
If you’ve got one showing up nearby, it means you’re doing something right. They love green spaces, a bit of food (for them), and places to hide under.
The food I mentioned up there (…for them) … they love slugs and other bugs. They’re not exactly pretty, and if you’re not from the UK, I’m sure you’ll get a bit of a fright, but slow worms used to be really common here.
Anyway, this wildlife is very welcome …. they’ve got their role, and I reckon we can let nature do its thing a bit too after everything we’ve put it through.
Now that you’re enjoying your cosy garden a bit more, have a little look around. Got any wildlife about? What animals are popping by for a visit?
Keep an eye on the ants ! unlike the bees, they can wreck your whole garden and lawn.
