simply the gardener's best friend
You will enrich your garden by knowing which friends to invite in
With the popularity of organic gardening it is really important as gardeners to understand what benefits some insects and animals can naturally have to our gardens.
By understanding what insects and animals can do in our garden will help us see which should be encouraged to take up residence and work with you to create a harmonious garden.
In this section we will identify those insects and animals which will act as a friend to the gardener, outlining how they will help and what we can do to encourage them to come into our garden and stay there.
simply the best insects
Ants
Butterflies
Ants
Depending on who you listen to, ants can be classed as either a friend or enemy of the gardener. Here we look at those types of ants which will benefit your garden, from aerating the soil, farming aphids for honeydew and eating caterpillars.
Bees
Butterflies
Ants
Gardeners know what an important role bees have in the garden and so class them as best friends. Good gardeners should always encourage bees to visit and thrive in their gardens as they are key to pollinating the plants they grow.
Butterflies
Butterflies
Butterflies
‘A few precious moments spent watching a stunning red admiral or peacock butterfly feeding amongst the flowers in my garden never fails to bring me great pleasure,’
Courtesy of Sir David Attenborough
Lacewings
Soldier Beetles
Lacewings
Lacewings and gardeners are great allies and the reason for this is that lacewings have a tremendous appetite for aphids. As a gardener's all you need to do is create the right habitat for them which should include somewhere they can hibernate over winter.
Ladybirds
Soldier Beetles
Lacewings
Ladybirds are best friends with most gardeners as they are a predatory species that will eat common garden pests including aphids and scale insects. The more ladybirds you have living in your garden, the easier it will be when it comes to managing garden pest.
Soldier Beetles
Soldier Beetles
Soldier Beetles
Soldier Beetles will work efficiently for the gardener. Their larvae prey on ground dwelling invertebrates including slugs and snails whilst the adults eat aphids and act as minor pollinators as they move from flower to flower seeking out nectar and pollen.
simply the best MAMMALS
Bats
Other Mammals
Hedgehogs
There are 17 species of bats in the UK and all are insectivores, only eating insects. Using gardens for feeding and daytime shelter, bats help out by eating mayflies, midges, mosquitoes, some beetles, in fact lots of insects which could damage garden plants and crops.
Hedgehogs
Other Mammals
Hedgehogs
Often called ‘the gardener’s friend’ hedgehogs are incredible pest controllers, with their diet of beetles, caterpillars, worms and other invertebrates they help to keep populations of bugs and beasties in check in your garden.
Other Mammals
Other Mammals
Other Mammals
This section is just sprouting . . .
simply the best amphibians
Frogs & Toads
Other Amphibians
Other Amphibians
Frogs and toads are great gardening partners as these ferocious gobblers can eat their way through 10,000 insects a season in your garden. Providing an effective pest control service these carnivores will munch on beetles, caterpillars, moths and even slugs.
Other Amphibians
Other Amphibians
Other Amphibians
This section is just sprouting . . .
Other Amphibians
Other Amphibians
Other Amphibians
This section is just sprouting . . .
simply the best invertebrates
Centipedes
Other Invertebrates
Centipedes
Centipedes help in the garden in two ways, acting as predators, eating insects including soil-dwelling mites, insects, insect larvae, even baby snails and slugs. The second way is that they break down organic matter, creating humus to enrich the soil.
Earthworms
Other Invertebrates
Centipedes
Earthworms play an important role in maintaining soil fertility and structure. They take dead leaves and plant debris from the surface into their tunnels to eat, with their castings improving the soil. Whilst their tunnels improve aeration and water filtration.
Other Invertebrates
Other Invertebrates
Other Invertebrates
This section is just sprouting . . .