Part 0800.0005

[The Dogmother]

I've mentioned this before, but have recently been asked to go and help a friend who wanted to build one, so I thought i'd post the method here for you to try if you choose

 

It really couldn't be simpler, and the aim is to provide a home in your garden for all manner of creepy crawlies and small wildlife to make your eco-system that much healthier. I was shown this method a few years back by a woodsman friend and have built one in my folks' garden - it is thriving and the have far more hedgehogs and toads than they have ever had

 

You need to use a rope or line to plot the straight line for the fence, then whack in two parallel lines of poles, about 2 feet apart, following that line. My folks had some 'rustic poles' left over from an old pergola, these are ideal, but if you have lengths of straight branch or even fencing posts, then these will do just as well. The poles in each line need to be 2-3 feet apart and each roughly opposite the corresponding pole in the other row.

 

Once the poles are installed, you fill the space in between with all the twiggy and branch type cuttings from your garden, laying them along the line between the two sets of poles (wish I had a photo here to help ). This will gradually increase in height as you add more twiggy bits (bramble is good too), and the bottom layers will start to decompose, providing a wonderful home for many insects and wood mice.

 

It makes a wonderful, rustic looking fence, which provides so many benefits to the wildlife in your garden.

 

If the instructions are clear as mud, then feel free to ask for clarification - I just wish that I'd got photos to illustrate each step.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

That's a nice idea .

 

We have a bug hotel .

[Olly]

I like that idea. I have a woodpile at the end of the garden, but a wildlife fence sounds great - although I guess it wouldn't be particularly pretty for the neighbours to see! I'd love to get rid of the rather scrubby privet hedge at the end of my garden and put something like this in.

 

If you're helping your friend to build one, could you take some photos?

[Cinnamon]

I remember that someone on here made one of those & posted photos,but it was more of a structure than a fence - great idea either way

[Cinnamon]

Ta Da!!!!!

 

Is this similar,Claret?

 

LINKY THINGY

[The Dogmother]

Not a dis-similar idea Sarah.

 

The one I helped my folks build has plants growing up it now. The birds seem to love all the bugs that live there.

[Daphne]

I thought this was going to be a hedge! What a fabulous idea; it gets rid of all sorts of woody and scrubby odds and ends and you can just extend it as you acquire more stuff. One year I shoved the hawthorn hedge clippings under the hedge because there were so many of them, but then the hens came along and pulled them all out again - this would be much better as I could put something bigger at the bottom. I have a grass clippings messy mound in one corner and this could screen it whilst being useful at the same time. Thanks!

[The Dogmother]

No worries, glad it's of help.

 

I don't have room for one myself, but my folks use theirs a lot and pop uncompostable stuff on like brambles, woody cuttings, tough nettles. They had lizards living in theirs in the summer

[stoice]

You need to use a rope or line to plot the straight line for the fence, then whack in two parallel lines of poles, about 2 feet apart, following that line. My folks had some 'rustic poles' left over from an old pergola, these are ideal, but if you have lengths of straight branch or even fencing posts, then these will do just as well. The poles in each line need to be 2-3 feet apart and each roughly opposite the corresponding pole in the other row.

 

Could these also be willow? Stuck into the ground they'd root so you'd have greenery for bugs and things too. Love the idea Claret.

[The Dogmother]

Good idea, just so long as they are thick and sturdy enough.