Native plants to attract birds/bees/butterflies

[BoBoo]

We've just bought a house in London and the garden is pretty bare. I'd like to stock it with lots of British plants and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions of anything that's especially good for birds or bees.

It's not a sprawling garden by any means but there's scope for maybe a tree, as well as some shrubs and flowers. I was also thinking of putting a line of hedging against the wall in the front garden.

We're in South East London so will probably go online to get the plants if anyone has any recommendations of sites. Thank you!

[usualsuspect]

buddleia will attract butterflies ...lavender will attract bees

[KATTT]

There was a great study a couple of years ago in Sheffield which found that specific wildlife-flowers have no impact on the diversity or number of species in gardens. (A book was written about it called 'No Nettles Required').

What was found to be important was a good range of plants.

I would say avoid double flowers and over-cultivated plants. Plants that flower early and late in the season are great for bees (pulmonaria in spring, golden rod in autumn). Also don't just think about the plants but also the habitats and the food chain. A pond and old woody undisturbed areas for insects. I could bore for britain about this, but I'll stop there.

Just one last thing, very close to you is a great place to go for a visit and you can buy plants there. (I don't know if it's open in winter)

Centre for Wildlife Gardening,
28 Marsden Road, London SE15 4EE.
020 7252 9186

[Grockle]

[BoBoo]

Thanks. I'll check out the Centre.

I don't doubt that variety is important, but surely what you pick must also have some impact. Have had a bit of a look online and am thinking of going with some Blackthorn, honeysuckle, rowan and a bird cherry and a mixture of plants like trefoil, teasel and violet.

[masuki]

boboo what is a bird cherry??

three buddlea and afew lavender worked a treat for me last year - they were simply covered in beautiful bees and butterflies.