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From the Archives: Planting for Wildlife

Peter Gibbs prunes through the GQT archives in search of advice on planting for wildlife.

Peter Gibbs guides us through the GQT archive, which includes some much needed advice on how to make your garden more wildlife friendly.

The GQT team have pruned through 77 years of questions and answers to reveal useful advice provided by our various horticultural experts. This includes tips on how to attract bats to the garden, advice on rabbit proof plants and the benefits of snakes in the garden

Later, we listen back to when Kirsty Wilson visited Glenarm Castle and discussed how we make our gardens to safe for hedgehogs.

Producer: Bethany Hocken
Assistant Producer: Rahnee Prescod
Executive Producer: Carly Maile

A Somethin' Else production for 麻豆官网首页入口 Radio 4

Available now

42 minutes

Plant List

Questions and timecodes are below. Where applicable, plant names have been provided.

Q 鈥 Spent plants鈥︹妕o clear or not to clear? (1鈥29鈥)

Kitty 鈥

Alcea, hollyhocks

Cynara cardunculus Scolymus Group, globe artichoke

Cichoriumintybus, chicory

Q 鈥 I鈥檓 looking for hedge ideas for a 20-metre boundary. I'd like it to be wildlife friendly, fast growing and evergreen. (05鈥36鈥)

Matt Biggs 鈥

Crataegus, hawthorn

Crataegusmonogyna, common Hawthorne

Bunny Guinness 鈥

Ilex aquifolium, common holly

Lottie Allen 鈥

Fagussylvatica听Atropurpurea Group, copper beech

Feature 鈥 Kirsty Wilson discusses protecting hedgehogs in the garden (09鈥23)

Q 鈥 What plants would the panel recommend to attract insects which are active at night and therefore bats into my garden? (13鈥33鈥)

Bob Flowerdew 鈥

Tilia 脳 europaea, common lime

Lonicera, honeysuckles

Anne Swithinbank 鈥

Itea ilicifolia, holly-leaved sweet spire

Araujia sericifera, cruel plant

Q 鈥 What can I plant in my bog pond that will make it look more appealing and prevent herons from visiting? (16鈥08鈥)

Chris Beardshaw 鈥

Caltha palustris, marsh marigold

Mentha spicata, spearmint

Lobeliacardinalis听'Queen Victoria', cardinal flower 'Queen Victoria'

Iris sibirica, siberian flag

Feature 鈥 Encouraging birds to tackle common pests and diseases such as box blite.

Q 鈥 Is there any way to discourage pheasants from my garden? (24鈥11鈥)

Q 鈥 What can I plant in my garden that won鈥檛 be eaten by rabbits? (27鈥50鈥)

鈥奐ohn Cushney听 鈥

Cortaderiaselloana, pampas Grass

Feature 鈥 Pippa Greenwood providing advice on how to make your garden wildlife friendly (32鈥06)

Q 鈥 Do snakes have any benefit to our gardens? (35鈥52鈥)

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