Riverside Garden Centre: Attracting Pollinators to your Garden

Riverside has officially become part of the Great Bedminster Urban Nature Reserve. This is a project from the BS3 Wildlife Group, which aims to get as many domestic gardens, parks and other larger spaces in the area to register and to also work together to join up these spaces for the good of our wildlife.

Here at Riverside we have around 4 acres of land, and in addition to the multitude of plants on display we also have a wildlife area with a pond, log piles, bird feeders and pollinator friendly plants, and we have many mature trees on site. A wide variety of species have been spotted here, including invertebrates, birds, amphibians, and small mammals. We are also an important link between the green spaces of the Avon New Cut and Greville Smyth Park.

Helping you attract pollinators and other wildlife
We also want to help you, our customers, to be wildlife friendly in your gardens, no matter where you live in Bristol, or beyond. Something we get asked for a lot is help with choosing plants that are good for bees and other pollinators.

Top tips for a pollinator friendly garden:

• Choose a sheltered sunny spot.
• Place each plant in groups or drifts so that the colour and scent are easy to detect.
• Prolong the flowering season – select plants for all seasons so you all round interest for insects.
• Choose flowers with a simple open structure as they are the easiest for insects to feed from. Native flowers are loved by butterflies and other pollinators.
• Remember to provide a night-time feast for moths. Plant some night-scented flowers.

Other ways to help visiting wildlife:

• Give visiting wildlife a safe home. We have a great range of beautiful butterfly houses, bird feeders and food, hedgehog houses, attractive bug hotels to display on a sheltered wall, or place among your flowers.
• Foraging for food is thirsty work! Butterflies will visit bird baths, but you can simply put out a small dish of water. Adding a little sugar will give tired butterflies an extra boost.
• Don’t be in a hurry to clear up fallen fruit from under your fruit trees. In late summer butterflies, such as Red Admiral and Painted Lady will feed on fruit juices in fallen over-ripe pears, apples and soft fruit such as plums and cherries.
• Don’t kill butterflies! It sounds obvious, but insecticides kill off more than just those pesky greenflies. Use organic products, apply to plants in the evening and avoid spraying the flowers themselves if possible.

Interested in finding out more?

We also have books about gardening for wildlife in our shop, and you can always ask us for any advice. Our website also has a great collection of free guides and plant lists for wildlife gardens!
For example…. Plants for pollinators & Bee Friendly Bedding Plants.

And a monthly newsletter and active social media to keep up with what’s happening at Riverside!

www.riversidegardencentre.com/sign-up
Instagram- @riversidegardencentre
Facebook- @riversidegardencentrebristol

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