2022 - Moving forward

WinterWarrior

That’s interesting. I didn’t realise insects were in danger. We have a very wild garden too so I must be doing my bit.  Rabbits live in our small embankment so we’re keen not to disturb them with fancy gardening.

sashybo

Ah no jwil, earwigs are just 🤢. I do try to encourage the kids not to be scared of insects etc out in the garden, they’re still at the age where they find them fascinating. 

They scream when they see spiders in the greenhouse and I always have to remind them that they’re doing a good job and nothing to be scared of. Doesn’t stop me getting a fright when one appears out of nowhere & whips across the floor though. 😂

NeverendingDMP

I have my hand up as having a garden that has more life in it than I could.ever imagine. Every year I try and tame the garden and every year it wins. Sounds like an interesting book. I'm sure my twenty things to do in 2020 included reading. I have done 1 book this year but definitely need to get reading again now the kids are school aged

HairyHandofDartmoor

Everyone in my house is scared of spiders except me. I've pointed out the beauty of a spiders web sparkling with dew but I can't convince them 🤔. Spiders eat flies too which is a useful function to my mind. All the children at school used to love insects and want to carry them around the playground in their hands  😂.

beanielou

Enjoy your weekend.

savingholmes

If you boost the pollinating insects - then that helps food production - and also helps birds. So multiple wins... This is why I am so in favour of biodiversity in my own garden LOL. The only reason... 

jwil

WinterWarrior said:

That’s interesting. I didn’t realise insects were in danger. We have a very wild garden too so I must be doing my bit.  Rabbits live in our small embankment so we’re keen not to disturb them with fancy gardening.

Yes, we hear about the bees etc, and notice that we don't get so many bugs splat on the windscreen, but I hadn't realised how bad it was.  There are figures of 70, 80+% reductions in some areas, and even more.  It was very sobering!

sashybo said:

Ah no jwil, earwigs are just 🤢. I do try to encourage the kids not to be scared of insects etc out in the garden, they’re still at the age where they find them fascinating. 

They scream when they see spiders in the greenhouse and I always have to remind them that they’re doing a good job and nothing to be scared of. Doesn’t stop me getting a fright when one appears out of nowhere & whips across the floor though. 😂

I wouldn't say I'm a fan of many insects, but earwigs are the one that make me shudder and screech.  I can cope with nearly everything else.  Yes, I hate 'running' spiders, as long as they are stationery I'm fine   I do try and encourage the kids to like them too.

NeverendingDMP said:

I have my hand up as having a garden that has more life in it than I could.ever imagine. Every year I try and tame the garden and every year it wins. Sounds like an interesting book. I'm sure my twenty things to do in 2020 included reading. I have done 1 book this year but definitely need to get reading again now the kids are school aged

Mine is a jungle, and I'm sure there are more insects in there than I see, but we have lots of shrubs, but not a lot of flowers.  I always mean to rectify it, but don't get round to it.  I will make the effort this year.  I can't remember the last time I saw a ladybird!

It was definitely an interesting book and very easy to read as well.  Not too technical or dry.

HairyHandofDartmoor said:

Everyone in my house is scared of spiders except me. I've pointed out the beauty of a spiders web sparkling with dew but I can't convince them 🤔. Spiders eat flies too which is a useful function to my mind. All the children at school used to love insects and want to carry them around the playground in their hands  😂.

I definitely like spiders for their diet!  Unfortunately (!) houseflies and mosquitoes and midges appear to be thriving.
Little miss loves hunting for insects in the garden too.  Little jwil has never been interested.

beanielou said:

Enjoy your weekend.

Thank you, you too

savingholmes said:

If you boost the pollinating insects - then that helps food production - and also helps birds. So multiple wins... This is why I am so in favour of biodiversity in my own garden LOL. The only reason... 

Yes definitely - and the loss of insects has such an impact on all the creatures that feed on them so why we don't see so many birds any more.  I was going to get one of those signs that say it's a wild garden, to stop sniffy people  

savingholmes

We are genuinely doing more for the planet than the people with the perfect gardens. Helps me sleep at night

jwil

savingholmes said:

We are genuinely doing more for the planet than the people with the perfect gardens. Helps me sleep at night

Definitely, we should be proud

NeverendingDMP

savingholmes said:

We are genuinely doing more for the planet than the people with the perfect gardens. Helps me sleep at night

Exactly!
Jwill if you have a spare corner or bit of soil I can highly recommend the aldi wild flower box of seeds. It costs 2.50 when they sell it. We had about a metre square that I dug over and we just chucked the wildflower seeds in. We got poppies and some lovely orange, yellow, blue and tiny white flowers which in turn brought some bees and butterflies. I've no idea what they were or tbh what I was really doing but it was a nice surprise to see what grew