Hannah Stephenson suggests a few things we can do to help our hard-working insects survive the winter

WE know bees, hoverflies and other beneficial insects provide a welcome sight for gardeners in spring and summer, pollinating our flowers and helping us to reap rich harvests, but these valued species also need plenty of protection in the winter to ensure they return in years to come.

As part of Wild About Gardens Week, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and The Wildlife Trusts (TWT) are urging people to do more to support the UK’s vital pollinators during the cooler months.

RHS senior entomologist Andrew Salisbury says: “Pollinators and other invertebrates need sheltered places to spend the cold winter months. By being a little less tidy, particularly around the base of hedges and in garden borders, creating bug hotels and log piles, we can provide much needed overwintering sites, giving pollinators a head start in the spring.”

The two organisations have produced a winter survival guide for the UK’s 1,500 species of pollinating insects. People with outside spaces are urged to:

Make an insect hotel or overwintering habitat - Insect hotels provide shelter and overwintering habitats for many pollinators. WAG week is featuring a ‘build a bug hotel’ competition to encourage gardeners, schools and community groups to get building and share photographs of their projects to inspire others to get involved. More details about the competition can be found at wildaboutgardens week.org.uk/buildabughotel. Entries close on October 31.

Create log piles – Some pollinating insects nest or overwinter in dead wood and many uncommon insects such as the stag beetle rely on it for a large part of their lifecycle. Half bury some logs, leave dead wood where it falls, and keep tree stumps in place.

Darlington and Stockton Times:

Cut back on the cutting back - instead of cutting flower borders back in late autumn, leave the dead stems all winter until early spring. The hollow stems of perennial plants provide shelter for overwintering insects.

Let your lawn grow - Leave a long patch over the winter, before cutting it back, resuming mowing in early spring and it’ll help many creatures hibernate.

Ensure your garden contains a wide range of plants, trees and shrubs that produce pollen and nectar resources throughout the year Autumn and winter nectar plants to consider include: Spanish traveller’s joy (Clematis cirrhosa), winter-flowering crocus (Crocus species), ivy (Hedera helix), Purpus honeysuckle (Lonicera × purpusii), Michaelmas daisy (Aster), perennial sunflower (Helianthus × laetiflorus), winter aconite (Eranthis hyemalis) and sweet box (Sarcococca confusa).

Be considerate to dandelions and nettles, which are crucial for many pollinators.

A recent study highlighted that 24 per cent of European bumblebee species are at risk of extinction and we have already lost 23 bee and flower-visiting wasp species in Britain.

Paul Wilkinson, The Wildlife Trust’s head of living landscape, says: “The provision of nectar-rich flowers combined with equal effort to restore and create ‘home’ habitats - including food plants for caterpillars and undisturbed ground for hibernating bees - is a winning combination.

“Although the importance of bees is now widely recognised, let’s also give credit to and raise awareness of our lesser-known pollinators, including the peacock butterfly, hummingbird hawk moth and marmalade hoverfly.

“Ultimately, it’s looking after the small stuff which helps to create a healthier bigger picture for wildlife and the natural environment. Collectively, our gardens make up the biggest nature reserve in the UK. Let’s make it the biggest and best it can be.”

l Wild About Gardens Week runs from September 15-21. TWT and RHS will be offering free advice and resources via the website wildaboutgardens.org.uk

BEST OF THE BUNCH - Japanese Anemone

Darlington and Stockton Times:

Also known as windflowers, these stalwarts of the late summer border produce pretty papery white or pink flowers on tall stems from August through to October, can be grown in sun or shade and are good for lighting up a dark corner of the garden.

They like well-drained soil and often spread by themselves, creating new clumps that can be lifted and planted elsewhere. Beware, though, I've found that once they are in your border they may be difficult to remove completely if you decide you don't like them.

A multitude of flowers are produced throughout the summer and are ideal subjects for cut flowers and borders. Good varieties include A. hupehensis 'Prinz Heinrich', which grows to 90cm (36in) and produces semi-double dark pink flowers and A. x hybrida 'Honorine Jobert', which grows up to 140cm (56in) and produces white single flowers.

GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT - Sweetcorn

Darlington and Stockton Times:

YOU may have noticed the price of supermarket corn-on-the-cob always goes down at this time of year, but if you’ve grown it yourself, it will taste different again picked straight from your garden.

The cobs should be ripening now and there are easy ways to tell if they’re ready to pick.

Harvest them when the tassels on the end of the cobs start to shrivel.

Peel back the leafy sheaf and gently press your thumbnail into a grain.

If the cob is ready, a creamy liquid will spurt out, if the liquid is watery leave the cobs for a few days before trying again.

Sweetcorn should be used as soon as possible after picking, but if you want to save it, blanch it and then freeze it.

WHAT TO DO THIS WEEK

Empty hanging baskets and containers which are past their best to make way for winter and spring basket plantings;

Continue to harvest fruit and vegetables;

Continue weeding regularly so that the weeds do not shed seeds which will remain in the soil over the winter;

Don’t let the soil around newly planted trees and shrubs dry out;

Mulch any areas of borders which have not been covered already and replenish old mulches;

Cut off or prune diseased leaves of plants so that overwintering spores won’t survive until next year; 

Continue to plant spring bulbs such as daffodils and crown imperials to give early colour;

Cover tender plants with cloches, netting or horticultural fleece to protect them from early frosts; 

Select new climbers and wall shrubs - garden centres usually have a wide choice in stock now;

Check all ties and stakes of dahlias are secure;

Sow parsley and chervil in a sunny, well-drained spot. They should be ready by late winter or early spring.