Bats are a fascinating and diverse group of species, it is important that we protect them and try do our own little bit to help them survive the damage we have caused to their natural habitats. We spoke to Professor John Altringham, a leading bat expert at the University of Leeds to ask him some questions about the current situation with bats and advice on how we can do our own bit to help:

“We should protect bats for no reason other than the fact we should. They are fascinating creatures whose pure intrigue makes them worth protecting and have every right to live without even considering any of the other advantage they provide.”

Bats make up a part of several ecosystems and the knock on consequences of the removal of bats could be disastrous to biodiversity. In addition to this bats even provide economic advantages; a 2011 study gave an estimate of bats contribution to the US economy through pest control of $23 billion a year.

The largest factor effecting bats at the moment are those caused by humans. “Destruction, degradation and fragmentation of their habitat are the main pressures acting on bats. We are constantly chipping away at them, reducing the area and quality of habitat available to them.” As a result of the damage we have caused some species of UK bats are down to only a few % of the population that existed a hundred years ago.

It is often thought that individuals can’t have much of an impact on issues spanning such wide areas however studies have proven that a diverse urban or sub-urban habitat can have great beneficial implications on helping maintain biodiversity and conservation of species. So, how can you do your bit to help?

Make your garden a haven for insects

To help bats you need to provide them with food, by attracting a range of insects to your garden, not only will you help increase the biodiversity of your garden, it will provide a range of potential food for bats.

•  Use a range of plants including night scented species to attract night flying insects.

Evening Primrose:

Image source: http://www.aromaoilstore.com/files/product/small/Evening%20Primrose%20Oil.jpg

Jasmine:

Image source: http://www.behindthename.com/imagebank/images/jasmine.jpg

Honeysuckle:

Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lesioc/3602897541/

·         A water feature or pond is also great for encouraging insects to settle in your garden as many insect species require pools of water to lay eggs in. Do not have fish in the pond though, these will eat any insect larvae and defeat the purpose of having the pond.

·         Don’t use pesticides, this may seem obvious but they reduce the available prey for bats and some pesticides can harm bats if they eat insects that are affected by the pesticides.

Keep it dark

Bats are primarily nocturnal, so use light in a sensitive way. Try to keep light levels low and not pointed at areas the bats are likely to use. Obviously you will need a bit of light to be able to enjoy the garden yourself but try to make it a compromise between you and the bats.

Bat boxes

In urban areas bat boxes are very difficult to get to work. The bats have plenty of options for places to roost in the surrounding buildings. If there aren’t a many buildings around to act as roosts then the best option to try is a large multi-chambered bat house that is positioned as high up as possible.

If you incorporate these features to your garden the most likely bats you would attract in urban areas would be the common and soprano pipistrelles. These are the smallest bats found in the UK weighing somewhere between 3.5 to 8.5 grams. Even though they are tiny bats they can eat up to 3,000 insects each in a single night. They fly very erratically close to buildings and trees.

In more fringe urban and suburban areas you may find other bat species like brown long-eared bats, natterer’s bats, noctule and Daubenton’s bats. Potentially others of the 18 resident British bat species could visit your garden but these are the most likely.

So let’s get gardening and doing our part to help with bat conservation. Let us know how your attempts at making a bat friendly garden go!

Sources

http://www.bats.org.uk/index.php

Boyles, J. G. et al. (2011) Economic Importance of Bats in Agriculture, Science, Vol 332, Pages 41-42.                                 

Here is the Tiger Sheds Guide to some of the best Garden and Flower Shows in 2013.

RHS Chelsea Flower Show

Date – 21^st – 25^th May 2013

Venue – Royal Hospital, London SW3 4SR

Ticket info  – click here

Description –  The Chelsea Flower Show is the most famous flower show in the UK and 2013 sees it in its 100^th year!  With 550 exhibitors displaying everything from garden furniture, to natural swimming pool construction, there really is something for everyone.

Find out more about RHS Chelsea Flower Show  

Image source: http://www.royalgardenhotelblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/chelsea-flower-show.jpg

Hertfordshire County Show

Date – 25^th & 26^th May 2013

Venue – The Showground, AL3 7PT

Ticket info – click here

Description – Herefordshire County Show is a family fun day out, comprising of a wide range of entertainment. There’s plenty to see and do for children, from the ‘Festival Circus’, to ‘Imps Motorcycle Display team’. Also, Jason Smyth will be bringing his ‘Adrenaline Tour’ to the show, expect dangerous, awe inspiring aerial tricks from the former Championship Moto Cross rider.

Find out more about Hertfordshire County Show

Gardeners’ World Live

Date – 12^th – 16^th June 2013

Venue - NEC Birmingham, B40 1NT

Ticket info – click here

Description – Also incorporating the RHS Flower Show Birmingham, Gardener’s World Live, fuses show gardens, well known experts presenting and live music.

Food options are extensive, including the ‘MasterChef Restaurant’, where a pre-booking will ensure you are treated to a high-end lunch and also the ‘Food on the Go’ sections which can be found throughout the show. If a picnic is more your style, ‘Picnic Hill’ is the perfect place to take some time out for a relaxing family meal, overlooking the show gardens.

Find out more about Gardeners’ World Live

Image source: http://www.bbcgardenersworldlive.com/

Woburn Abbey Garden Show

Date – 22^nd & 23^rd June 2013

Venue – Woburn Park, Bedfordshire MK17 9WA

Ticket info – click here for 10% online reduction

Description – A garden show for gardeners of all levels and interests. Well known gardening personalities, Diarmuid Gavin and Pippa Greenwood, have been invited along to demonstrate and take part in a Q+A panel session.

Other entertainment comes in the form of live music and refreshments.

Find out more about Woburn Abbey Garden Show           

RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show

Date – 9^th – 14^th July 2013

Venue – Hampton Court Palace, KT8 9AU

Ticket info  – click here

Description – Hampton Court Palace is a fabulous setting for a flower show and is an exciting alternative to the Chelsea Flower Show. Tickets are easier to get hold of and you’ll see a completely different variety of flowers in bloom to that on display at the CFS, which is held in Spring. Another bonus is that gardeners can actually buy flowers at this event.

The Hampton Court Flower Show is now the World’s largest flower show!

Find out more about RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show

Harrogate Autumn Flower Show

Date – 13^th – 15^th Sept 2013

Venue– Great Yorkshire Showground, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG2 8NZ

Ticket info – click here

Description – Harrogate Flower Show occurs both in Spring and Autumn and is often regarded as the most prestigious UK offering. Held at the Great Yorkshire Showground, it plays host to show gardens, garden shopping, garden art, an extensive food and catering area and much, much more.  There’s fun for children in the shape of nature trails, quizzes and colouring workshops, with a photography competition for adults.

Find out more about Harrogate Flower Show

Landscape Show

Date – 24^th & 25^th Sept 2013

Venue – Battersea Park, SW11

Ticket info – register for free tickets

Description – This is a trade event for professionals working in the landscaping sector; architects, interior designers etc.

The event displays cutting edge techniques and new technology, relevant to the sector and is a must for anyone wanting to keep up to date with immerging practices.

Find out more about Landscape Show

RHS London Harvest Festival Show

Date – 8^th – 9^th October 2013

Venue – RHS Lindley Hall, Elverton Street, London SW1P 2PE

Ticket info  – click here

Description – This is a festival for growers to show off their produce. There’s competitions, tasting and live music. There are also plenty of opportunities to pick up your seeds for the next planting season.

Find out more about RHS London Harvest Festival

Image source: http://www.rhs.org.uk/shows-events/rhs-london-flower-shows/rhs-london-autumn-harvest-show

Let us know in the comments if you have plans to attend any of these events, and which ones you're looking forward to the most!

Ever wondered why they call it a "Secret" garden? The reason stretches far beyond the mystery of their location. Plants all around us have been acting like humans and remain unsuspecting to the vast majority of us! Of what has been revealed from the dedicated research, there is still complex plant behaviour that just cannot be explained. Despite this, the advantages that certain behaviours bring to plants and their similarities with those of humans, may present opportunities to justify some of our own behaviours, be they good or bad.

According to Plants it's ok to...

...Talk to Yourself, as Long as there are Plants Around

It's no secret that plants possess an extraordinary ability to communicate with each other. In fact the green thumbs of the world, including his Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales, have even cultivated the art of conversing with plants themselves. Research has suggested that certain types of sound wave may possibly interfere with the normal activity of some plant genes. Comparing sound exposure and the lack of it to pea plants revealed that the stimulus of sound might actually lead to greater plant mass. While certainly not conclusive just yet, this phenomenon remits the attention of keen gardeners and much more research from botanists.

...Fake an Illness

The "Elephant Ear" plant, which can be found in the everyday garden, mimics being ill to discourage mining moths from eating its otherwise healthy leaves. The process is known as Variegation and is commonly caused when plants lose their green chlorophyll cells, making them appear white. Naturally a plant lacking chlorophyll cells would have its ability to photosynthesise restricted and appear weak. Feigning this sickness detracts insect pests from eating plants and can strengthen their long-term success. So if it's photo day at school and an acne outburst leaves you resembling a variegated leaf, pulling a "sickie" might be an effective course of action.

A leaf damaged by mining moths (left) compared to one faking it (right)

Image source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8108000/8108940.stm

...Be Picky

Plants are very selective when it comes to choosing mates. They have a self-incompatibility system that helps them reject unwanted pollen. Often this is to avoid accepting the pollen of other species that can result in infertile off-spring or in some cases to avoid being fertilised by their own pollen. The tomato, tobacco, and egg plants have been subjected to the bulk of this research. While the reasons for the incompatibility system are understood, the understanding of it at a molecular level isn't. The mechanisms behind recognising wanted and unwanted pollen still remains a mystery. As humans, it seems we can take comfort in the fact that although our reasons for disqualifying someone as a potential mate may appear irrational and inexplicable, it just might serve us well in the long run!

...Be Shy

Mimosa Pudica, also known as the “touch-me-not” plant, is very shy to physical contact. In fact the slightest prod or gentle shake can cause it to close its leaves, and remain closed for up to half an hour! Its leaf cells react to pressure and transfer water to their adjacent cells. Cells with reduced water levels lose their strength in their cell wall causing the leaf to close. It is thought that this shy behaviour is used to surprise pests with their rapid change and scare them off. It just goes to show, sometimes being shy means being safe.

...Reach For the Sky!

If only metaphorically, this is another trait that humans and plants share in common. Plants grow up towards the sun to fuel their ever important process of photosynthesis. The plant hormone, auxin, promotes plant growth. It accumulates on the plant cells that are in the absence of light. Therefore the shaded side of a plant tends to grow faster than the side in the sunlight, causing the plant to grow towards the sun.  Their leaves which reach out to the sun can now photosynthesis and are rewarded with precious glucose, in contrast to fame and riches which humans may be rewarded with from reaching for the sky!

The personification of plant behaviour doesn't stop there either. There are plants that exist which have been known to cry out for help with chemicals, change their appearance to attract pollinators and even establish a neighbourhood watch!

Sources

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-478558/So-Charles-right--talk-plants-scientists-discover.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8108000/8108940.stm

http://www.aspb.org/PressReleases/mate_choice.cfm

http://www.kuriositas.com/2012/04/touch-me-not.html

http://www.vib.be/en/news/Pages/That-is-why-plants-grow-towards-the-light!.aspx

The start of spring is officially here! The days are getting longer, and the sun is beginning to shine (slowly but surely!) and it’s time to get out in the garden. Whether you’re a keen gardener with a green thumb, or you’re a complete novice there are plenty of ways to make the most out of your space. One such way of doing this is by upcycling. We all have bits and bobs in our house that we’re not quite ready to part with, but they are taking up valuable space... so why not upcycle them into something brand new and unique? 

One of the simplest ways of upcycling items for your garden is to make alternative plant pots. From old tin cans, to bottles and even newspaper, you can make cute plant pots out of almost anything!

Image designed by Mike Turner on behalf of Tiger Sheds

Click image to enlarge

To give an example, here’s how to make a plant pot out of newspaper (with the help of a tin can!):

• Take one page of newspaper and cut it into quarters.

• Depending on how big you want to make your newspaper plant pots, choose a tin can in the appropriate size.

• Wrap the newspaper pieces quite loosely around the can, and secure with a small piece of tape.

• Continue to wrap the newspaper around the bottom of the can and secure with another piece of tape.

• Just carefully slide the tin can out of the newspaper cup and then you should have a little seedling cup which you can fill with soil!

• As the newspaper is absorbent, another benefit of these plant pots is that you can water the soil from the bottom which is less damaging to the seedlings than planting from above.

To keep track of what you have in each plant pot, another neat idea which Karah from The Space Between suggested is to use upcycle old silverware, (either from a charity shop or what you have at home and don’t use anymore) and stamp them with the name of your plant! I think that would add a really pretty touch to your newspaper plant pots. Upcycling household items not only prevents waste, but it also helps to create a unique look for your garden – no-one else will have a plant pot quite the same! So have a look round your home or shed to see what you have lying around that can be upgraded into a brand new plant pot! Anyone have any other ideas for alternative plant pots, or other ways to upcycle in the garden?

British gardens have had a tough time of it this year with levels of ash dieback reaching epidemic proportions, and things are looking bleak with the emergence of 'killer slugs' in British gardens. According to the Royal Horticultural Society slugs have been the biggest pest problem of 2012, generating almost twice as many enquires to the RHS entomology department as the number two pest, cushion scale.

The 'killer slugs' are actually called Arion vulgaris, or the Spanish Slug, and have devastated crops in regions of Scandinavia. The Spanish Slug has earned the nickname of 'killer slug' as its eating habits include members of its own species, as well as anything else they come across such as dead mice and faeces. 

The 'killer slugs' are brown, reddish brown, or bright orange; this colouration can vary but not within the same population, and can grow up to 5 inches long. They were originally thought to be especially large Arion flagellus, or the Spanish Stealth Slug. It is only recent analysis of the male genitalia, which is distinctively different in Arion vulgaris, that has confirmed them as a new established species within the UK.

The invasiveness of the species is down to several factors, one of the major reasons is Arion vulgaris' willingness to colonise environments that are inhabited by humans.

The slugs are most frequently found in agricultural and horticultural habitats with permanent, dense vegetation; such as grasslands and gardens, they are especially abundant in compost heaps. The synanthropic nature of the 'killer slugs' means the possibility of the slugs being dispersed through trade is especially high. The wide variety of food sources available to the slugs, as they appear to eat most biological material, is another contributing factor to their invasiveness.

The 'killer slugs' are thought to have arrived in the UK via imported goods, possibly salad leaves, and have quickly established themselves in the south-east. One of the main reasons the 'killer slugs' have adapted so well to living in the UK is that they are used to living in dry climates where eggs are more likely to dry out before hatching. Because of this the slugs evolved to lay up to 400 eggs in a single summer, but when the eggs are laid in moist climates more of the offspring are surviving. The eggs are laid around September and November before the adults die off, the eggs begin to hatch in March or April and rapidly grow, maturing in June and July. This means come spring the UK can expect to see an explosion of the 'killer slug' population, with further breeding taking place in summer.

Dr Ian Bedford, head of the John Innes Centre's Entomology facility, found hundreds of the slugs in his own garden and believes the 'killer slugs' are going to be a major problem: "We want to look at the environmental impact because we know that where this slug appeared in northern Europe, other indigenous species disappeared. I haven't seen any other species here since probably May time."

One problem scientists are facing is determining the true extent of the slug's invasiveness. Dr Bedford has urged people to contact him if they find an unusually large number of slugs in their garden along with their location, and preferably postcode. Dr Bedford can be contacted by emailing ian.bedford@jic.ac.uk or by tweeting @drianbedford.

If you do find an unusually large number of slugs in your garden and do want to manage them, after contacting Dr Bedford, using chemical control such as methaldehyde or a carbamate containing bait pellet is one of the best solutions. But it is always good to remember to use the bare minimum of slug pellets as they can be toxic to other wildlife. The nematode Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita is a popular biological method of controlling slug populations; this has a high effectiveness against juvenile Arion vulgaris but larger members of the population seem to be resistant, so applying the nematodes to your garden as soon as the temperature increases may be a good idea. However the best method of managing the slug population is still going outside at night with a torch and removing the slugs by hand.

This post has been featured on The Huffington Post

For more information about slugs and other pests, visit Woolly Green