Creating a Natural Haven for Wildlife

Right here in my garden…

Hello, I’m Clare, a self-taught artist, I split my time between Dorset and Cornwall, UK.

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Hello Creative Souls,

Welcome to my April newsletter, thank you for popping in, grab a cuppa and join me for this month’s catchup.

This month, we've embarked on a delightful journey to transform our garden into a sanctuary for wildlife by installing a nature pond. Each year, our garden welcomes a myriad of tiny visitors, and now we aspire to provide them a thriving habitat where they can live, flourish, and multiply.

Inspired by our walks around the lakes in Cornwall, we commissioned a local artisan to construct a bug hotel to accompany the pond. It's our way of ensuring that our garden becomes a bustling hub of biodiversity. Our aim also extends to the hedgehogs, especially Mildred, our regular spiky guest, by making sure the pond is hedgehog-friendly.

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Mildred pops in every evening around 10.00 p.m for her tea. She follows the same route through the garden, popping through the fence from next door’s garden, across our lawn, through the veg patch and alongside the greenhouse, where I leave her a fresh bowl of hedgehog food and fresh water each evening. The timing of the food has to be just right before I head off to bed as we have noticed that if the food goes down too early the ravens, magpies and even a cat have been spotted devouring Mildred’s food before she even gets a look in. My husband set up the wildlife camera alongside Mildred’s bowls to solve the mystery of the disappearing hedgehog food. Here she is below enjoying her night time feast.

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Going back to the pond, we eagerly anticipate the transformation of our garden and the joy of witnessing our little ecosystem come to life. The tranquil water feature and the bustling insect metropolis are sure to add a touch of magic to our outdoor space, inviting nature’s wonders right to our doorstep.

We consulted a pond expert at our local garden centre to determine which plants to include in our pond. We’re particularly eager to attract dragonflies this year, having observed many visiting our garden over the years. We’ve incorporated numerous native plants, including Bog bean, Ragged robin, Brooklime, Marsh marigold, Water-forget-me-nots, and Dutch rush, to create a haven for pond life to lay their eggs and potentially reproduce. As the pond environment stabilises, we plan to introduce snails and have already spotted a water boatman happily exploring the new pond. We hope that with time, toads and newts will find their way into our garden and make their home in our pond.

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Nature Pond

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I am so excited to witness how our small pond flourishes and changes over the next few weeks, and I am sure it will provide me with many sketchbook opportunities. I plan on recording the pond’s progress in a nature journal and make some notes on the new visitors to the pond. Each day promises to bring new discoveries and moments to capture, as the pond attracts a variety of wildlife. I am particularly looking forward to seeing dragonflies and other insects that might find our garden an inviting place to visit.

As I document these changes, I hope to gain a deeper understanding of the ecosystem we are creating and to share insights into the behaviours and interactions of the creatures that call our pond home. This endeavour not only allows me to develop my artistic skills but also connects me more profoundly with nature, right in my own garden. Stay tuned for updates and pictures as our garden evolves into a natural haven!

In the meantime, if you’re looking for some relaxing and easy-to-watch content, check out my YouTube channel! I just uploaded a video where I share what I packed in my travel art kit before my trip to Portugal and Spain. It’s a great way to get some inspiration and ideas for your own travels.

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my latest post! I really value a like and a comment, and I always make sure to reply to them. It means the world to me when you share my posts with others too. Thanks again!

Until next time dear reader, stay naturally curious…

Clare 🙏💜