Wildlife watch: Speckled bush-cricket

An increase in development and urban sprawl has created a need to develop more wildlife-friendly landscapes. All wildlife need food, shelter (cover), water, and space to survive. A rain garden can fulfill some of those needs by providing habitat typically lacking in an urban or backyard environment. A rain garden is a landscaped depression designed to capture stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces such as roofs and roads and runoff from compacted turfgrass. See HGIC Factsheet 1864:Rain Garden Plants: Introduction for additional information on rain gardens.

As we enter the dog days of summer, many of us are buzzing about with trips to the beach, firing up the old grill, and celebrating our country’s independence. In between our attempts to pack as much into the warmer months of the year as we can, consider growing a plant that symbolizes the peak of the season like no other, the sunflower (Helianthusannuus, annual). Though considered in some circles a somewhat pedestrian plant that befits only the beginner gardener, there are many reasons why growing sunflowers are a boon to your garden. Learn all about how and why to grow annual sunflowers below.

Buying or selling property can be a complex process, and finding a reliable conveyancing solicitor is crucial to ensure a smooth transaction. 

Wondering whether or not it's time to replace your dishwasher? Be on the lookout for these six telltale warning signs that you may want to say goodbye to your existing appliance and purchase a new one.

Weed Watch: Pokeweed Learn how to identify and control pokeweed, a toxic native perennial. Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana) What does pokeweed look like?

Hey GPODers! No preamble from me today, Stephanie included a beautiful description with her submission so we’re jumping right in:

On Sunday after Park Yoga I took part in the national 'Waterblitz' weekend and tested the chemical water quality of a couple of locations in Chippenham. Here I'm assessing Hardenhuish Brook at my invertebrate sampling location for nitrate and phosphate levels by using a simple kit which takes just a few minutes to use — so different to the days when I used to do this in a lab! I've just looked at my results on the website and I'm pleased to see that my little corner of the world has good ecological status — yesterday morning at least! This matches the invertebrate results obtained so far, though I'm a

The long-tailed tit (Carduelis carduelis) has blush, black and white colouring with a long tail, which is longer than its body. Usually seen in small family groups, it has a bouncy flight and a ‘deet-deet’ call. It’s common in parks and gardens, where it eats invertebrates, particularly the eggs of moths and butterflies. In gardens it will visit feeders for peanuts and suet.

The orange-tip is one of the first butterflies of the year to emerge and can be found nectaring on spring flowers such as bluebells and cuckoo flower. The male is white with orange wing tips while the female has black wing tips – both sexes have beautiful mottled underwings, which are visible when mating and resting. After mating the female lays eggs on the flower stalks of cuckoo flower and hedge mustard, but in gardens may also lay on honesty and sweet rocket.

Britain is famously a nation of wildlife lovers. But with a 68% drop in wild animal populations since 1970, it’s more important than ever to look out for the natural world.

The great diving beetle is one of Britain’s largest beetles, with an olive-brown, oval body up to 3cm in length. It’s found in large ponds and other bodies of water, including swimming pools, and is easy to spot as it rises to the surface of the pond to replenish its air supply, which it stores beneath its wings.

January is an interesting time to look for birds in the garden, as days are short and the availability of natural food is limited. This brings more birds into gardens, for whom a reliable source of supplementary food can be a lifeline.