With the mild weather, our bees have been active, out foraging for food, which can be scarce at this time of year, so we have been giving them a helping hand to get them through the Winter. We will look at native flowering pollinator-friendly plants that could give additional food resources for next Winter. Once Spring is upon us, we [...]
We are delighted to see the return of our ducks, enjoying the site and settling in for the Spring/Summer.
It is amazing how when we notice the scent of an object we can take such pleasure from it. Often, smells remind us of pleasurable events of the past or poignant moments in our lives. For example, a briny smell may bring back memories of a surf laden seaside holiday, roses of our granny’s garden, coffee of lazy mornings reading [...]
Leafcutter bees (Megachilidae) are a solitary type of bee and there are a total of seven species in this family within the United Kingdom. If you have seen leaves with holes cut into them by little jaws, this is down to the female Leafcutter bees (Megachilidae) who use the pieces to build the cells in their nest. Find out more [...]
It's a busy time of year at Lindengate, with the team busy harvesting a fantastic variety of fruits & vegetables in the kitchen gardens and propagating plants, ready to be planted out next Spring. Take a look at the Gardeners World guide of the best plants to propagate. You could even donate some to Lindengate next Spring!
Bird’s-foot trefoil is a spreading, low-growing plant with lots of pretty yellow flowers from May to September. The name ‘bird’s-foot’ is from the seed pods that start to form in August, with three pods on a stalk, sticking out like bird’s feet. Bird’s-foot trefoil is also known colloquially as ‘eggs and bacon’, ‘butter and eggs’, and ‘hen and chickens’, as [...]
One of the Five Ways to Wellbeing, is to Take Notice. When thinking about what to plant in your garden, there are many things to consider. Thrive has many hints and tips on how to make the best of your outdoor space. Engaging Our Sense of Smell
This beautiful caterpillar was spotted on the path in the nature area at Lindengate recently, by one of the participants whilst we walked around the area looking at all the flora and fauna living in this little oasis, totally oblivious of the busy road only a few metres away. It was very lucky that none of us accidentally trod on it, as [...]
You might notice around the site or at home some trees that have had some of their leaves completely nibbled away. While there are lots of bugs and beasties that can be responsible for this, some of the main culprits are sawfly caterpillars. Sawflies, like many insects, start from eggs that hatch into caterpillars, and then spin cocoons before they [...]
Often called common nettle, stinging nettle or nettle leaf, it is a familiar and common plant. This may not be a plant that you want in your garden but it is hugely beneficial to wildlife. A very common plant, the stinging nettle can be found growing in gardens, hedgerows, fields, woodlands and many other habitats. Its preference for damp, fertile and [...]
