Wildlife and Gardens Thread

[Free Falling Foxes]

1 hour ago, Foxdiamond said:

Had a few recent sightings of the Jersey Tiger Moth. Beautiful orange when flying and almost an art deco look when at rest with a triangular shape with black and cream stripes. Used to be very rare on mainland England but range increasing in south

We've had a few squadrons of Dragon Flies in our garden this last week or two. 5 or 6 flying around at any one time.

Previously, I've only seen the odd one here and there - and that's pretty rare.

[Brizzle Fox]

2 hours ago, Foxdiamond said:

Had a few recent sightings of the Jersey Tiger Moth. Beautiful orange when flying and almost an art deco look when at rest with a triangular shape with black and cream stripes. Used to be very rare on mainland England but range increasing in south

Saw a Privet Hawk Moth chilling on a sheet when I was getting the washing in the other day. Never seen one before but it was blooming massive.

 

Looked really impressive, but scared the hell out of me when it then flew at me!

[Foxdiamond]

3 minutes ago, Brizzle Fox said:

Saw a Privet Hawk Moth chilling on a sheet when I was getting the washing in the other day. Never seen one before but it was blooming massive.

 

Looked really impressive, but scared the hell out of me when it then flew at me!

Yes would startle 

[Trav Le Bleu]

34 minutes ago, Brizzle Fox said:

Saw a Privet Hawk Moth chilling on a sheet when I was getting the washing in the other day. Never seen one before but it was blooming massive.

 

Looked really impressive, but scared the hell out of me when it then flew at me!

 

[Brizzle Fox]

49 minutes ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

 

That was exactly what it was like and a valid excuse for me screaming like a little girl...

[Free Falling Foxes]

Walking around our neighbourhood this morning, it dawned on me how very few homes have what you might call a traditional front garden of lawn, borders, flowers etc.

I would estimate that 75% or more, were block paved, slabbed, tarmac/concrete etc.

Oh I get why, it's usually to accommodate a car or 3. 

However, in the most recent David Attenborough series, Secret Garden, he mentioned the vital role our gardens play for wild life, especially as we lose more of our green spaces in our increasingly crowded island.

We are the most nature depleted country in the world. Not in the top 10, not in the top 5 - No1.

What an unwanted accolade and with gardens diminishing too, it ain't good. 

Edited Sunday at 14:04 by Free Falling Foxes

[leicsmac]

6 minutes ago, Free Falling Foxes said:

Walking around our neighbourhood this morning, it dawned on me how very few homes have what you might call a traditional front garden of lawn, borders, flowers etc.

I would estimate that 75% or more, were block paved, slabbed, tarmac/concrete etc.

Oh I get why, it's usually to accommodate a car or 3. 

However, in the most recent David Attenborough series, Secret Garden, he mentioned the vital role our gardens play for wild life, especially as we lose more of our green spaces in our increasingly crowded island.

We are the most nature depleted country in the world. Not in the top 10, not in the top 5 - No1.

What an unwanted accolade and with gardens diminishing too, it ain't good. 

This is an important point to make, though I would emphasise that lawns, especially regularly clipped ones, are one of the most barren biomes that still look "green".

 

NB. On a topic mentioned above, only roughly 8.5% of land in the UK is classed as "built on", but additionally only 35% is classed as true wild green land - the other ~57%, by far the biggest proportion, is used for agriculture. 

 

[The Bear]

Plenty of not all houses have back gardens too. And they're usually much bigger/longer than the front. 

[Foxdiamond]

1 hour ago, leicsmac said:

This is an important point to make, though I would emphasise that lawns, especially regularly clipped ones, are one of the most barren biomes that still look "green".

 

NB. On a topic mentioned above, only roughly 8.5% of land in the UK is classed as "built on", but additionally only 35% is classed as true wild green land - the other ~57%, by far the biggest proportion, is used for agriculture. 

 

Although lawns not that great for wildlife they do help absorb rain better than paving so helps against flooding. 

[leicsmac]

Just now, Foxdiamond said:

Although lawns not that great for wildlife they do help absorb rain better than paving so helps against flooding. 

No doubt, though I'm pretty sure better solutions exist there, too. 

[Foxdiamond]

1 minute ago, leicsmac said:

No doubt, though I'm pretty sure better solutions exist there, too. 

I do have a lawn but I do leave scruffy corners and wide borders for lots of flowers and shrubs that attract butterflies and bees etc. One nice surprise this year is a bumblebee nest in a hole in the wall where the old tv cable box is.  

[JonnyBoy]

On 19/07/2026 at 15:00, Free Falling Foxes said:

Walking around our neighbourhood this morning, it dawned on me how very few homes have what you might call a traditional front garden of lawn, borders, flowers etc.

I would estimate that 75% or more, were block paved, slabbed, tarmac/concrete etc.

Oh I get why, it's usually to accommodate a car or 3. 

However, in the most recent David Attenborough series, Secret Garden, he mentioned the vital role our gardens play for wild life, especially as we lose more of our green spaces in our increasingly crowded island.

We are the most nature depleted country in the world. Not in the top 10, not in the top 5 - No1.

What an unwanted accolade and with gardens diminishing too, it ain't good. 

We are in the process of transforming our new build garden with loads of bee friendly plants/flowers, tree’s etc. whilst a lot around us just lay plastic astroturf…. That should be used for sports pitches only! 
 

 

[Trav Le Bleu]

12 minutes ago, JonnyBoy said:

We are in the process of transforming our new build garden with loads of bee friendly plants/flowers, tree’s etc. whilst a lot around us just lay plastic astroturf…. That should be used for sports pitches only! 
 

 

The gardens in new builds are awful.

 

The number of nice houses I visit that have an overgrown back garden, often littered with discarded toys and a de rigueur trampoline.

[FoyleFox]

On 19/07/2026 at 15:00, Free Falling Foxes said:

Walking around our neighbourhood this morning, it dawned on me how very few homes have what you might call a traditional front garden of lawn, borders, flowers etc.

I would estimate that 75% or more, were block paved, slabbed, tarmac/concrete etc.

Oh I get why, it's usually to accommodate a car or 3. 

However, in the most recent David Attenborough series, Secret Garden, he mentioned the vital role our gardens play for wild life, especially as we lose more of our green spaces in our increasingly crowded island.

We are the most nature depleted country in the world. Not in the top 10, not in the top 5 - No1.

What an unwanted accolade and with gardens diminishing too, it ain't good. 

I had a walk around ours today. Our road, pretty much everyone has a drive and then lawn or large flower bed. Probably because most are single car homes. 

I ventured into the next three streets, and I'd say it's the same as your 75%. Then some have a drive and then a gravel area with pots.

I hadn't really taken any notice before your post but you're spot on.

[JonnyBoy]

14 hours ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

The gardens in new builds are awful.

 

The number of nice houses I visit that have an overgrown back garden, often littered with discarded toys and a de rigueur trampoline.

Yep hideous, it suits us now but wouldn’t buy new build for next house purely based off the garden. It is going to cost us close to £2000 next spring to get some mature(ish) trees for some privacy