April 2025

During April 2025 Sustainable Bucklebury have organised distribution of wildflower seeds within the parish.

Please see our page on planting your wildflower seeds, which also includes information on the seeds and distribution points if you would like to collect some seeds.

All our gardens, big and small, are incredibly important havens for wildlife.

By planting flowers and creating habitats you can encourage bees, butterflies, moths and other pollinating insects, amphibians and reptiles into your garden.

Why do we need more of these creatures?
The latest State of Nature report revealed that 44% of the UK's wildlife species have decreased over the past 10 years. Since the 1930s we have lost 97% of our wildflower meadows.  Loss of habitats, increased urbanisation, pollution, climate change and pesticide use have contributed to the decline.

Why are pollinators so important?
Pollinators are essential to the health of the planet.  Without them we wouldn’t have most of the vegetables and fruit that we eat. In addition to the food that we eat, pollinators support healthy ecosystems that clean the air, stabilize soils, protect from severe weather and support other wildlife.

Wildlife friendly gardening isn’t difficult.  
Just making a few, simple changes can have a big impact on the amount of wildlife that visits and go a long way towards supporting local species. Creating a wildlife garden doesn’t have to be expensive or time consuming either – in fact, gardening for wildlife is often a more low maintenance approach than the alternatives.

How can you help?

• Grow native pollinator friendly plants – aim for a wide range and ones that flower at different times of the year
• Feed the birds – and leave out dishes of water for them to drink (make sure you clean both regularly)
• Make a wildlife pond to encourage amphibians, insects and birds.  Small ponds are better (without fish which eat smaller water creatures)
• Let an area of grass grow long to provide shelter for small mammals and a habitat for many insects
• Plant a fruit tree or other shrub or tree that produces berries for birds
• Avoid using pesticides and insecticides as they kill beneficial insects as well as pests
• Leave some weeds – butterflies and other insects love nettles, daisies and dandelions
• Build a compost heap with wooden pallets or planks or buy a purpose built one
• Plant a native hedge along your garden borders for nesting birds and other animals
• Drill holes in wood to encourage solitary bees to nest or make/buy bee hotels
• Build log piles or ‘dead hedges’ of unwanted woody material to encourage invertebrates and reptiles