A busy time for wildlife
Summer brings longer days, warmer weather and plenty of activity. Flowers provide food for visiting insects, young wildlife may be growing and gardens can become busy with life. It’s a great time to watch which flowers attract visitors and discover just how much wildlife can share even a small outdoor space.
What might you notice?
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What's Flowering?
Look for flowers providing nectar and pollen throughout the summer. Notice which plants attract the most visitors and how this changes as different flowers come and go.
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Who's Visiting?
Watch for bees, butterflies, moths, hoverflies and other insects taking advantage of summer flowers, along with the other wildlife sharing your outdoor space.
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What's Changing?
Look for flowers fading and new ones opening, seeds beginning to develop and signs of young wildlife as the season progresses.
Ways to help this summer
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Keep Flowers Coming
Grow a variety of plants that flower at different times to help provide nectar and pollen throughout the summer.
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Provide Water
Keep a shallow source of fresh water available, especially during hot and dry weather, with safe places for insects to land and drink.
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Give Wildlife Space
Check carefully before cutting back plants or disturbing sheltered areas, particularly where wildlife may be nesting or resting.
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Let Some Plants Flower
If you grow herbs, consider allowing some to flower. Their blooms can provide an additional source of food for visiting pollinators.
Make the most of summer
Summer is a wonderful time to explore your patch. Take a few moments to watch which flowers are busiest, notice new visitors and see how your outdoor space changes as the weeks pass. Keeping a record can reveal patterns you might otherwise miss.