Wild about gardens: from birds to blossom
4/30/202635 min
Today we’re getting wild in the garden and taking a look at some of the abundance that's on display as spring hits its peak. The RSPB’s Emma Marsh joins us to unpack the results of this year's Big Garden Birdwatch, offering a revealing snapshot of the health of some of our most cherished garden visitors. Emma also shares how new research is informing New RSPB advice on feeding birds seasonally and safely. One key food source for young chicks at this time of year is juicy caterpillars; RHS Principal Entomologist Dr Hayley Jones shares her advice on how to live with these misunderstood critters, and why moths in general deserve some more credit in the garden. And finally, we turn to a seasonal highlight: crab apples. Nurseryman Nick Dunn of Frank P Matthews nursery joins us to celebrate these remarkable trees as they burst into bloom, offering beauty, abundance and a vital source of food for birds, insects - and even us. Host: Guy Barter Contributors: Emma Marsh, Dr Hayley Jones, Nick Dunn Extra links: Wild About Gardens: magical moths RHS Wildlife gardening advice Remembering Nigel Dunnett
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsHayley Jones· Guest0:00
[gentle music] It's really interesting, actually. Everyone always asks, like, why are moths attracted to light? And we actually don't know for sure. Like, lots of scientists have tried to study and have different theories about is it that they use the moon to navigate? That was a big one, but we actually haven't been able to definitively kind of prove why moths are attracted to light.
Guy Barter· Host0:22
So it remains a mystery, one we're still trying to understand. But while we may not yet know why moths are drawn to light, we do know this: they are essential. Often overlooked, moths play a vital role in the balance of our garden ecosystems, and yet many species are now under threat. That's why Wild About Gardens, the collaboration between the RHS and the Wildlife Trusts, has chosen these winged wonders as its focus this year, shining a light on their importance before more of them fade from view. RHS principal entomologist Dr Hayley Jones returns to guide us through the first, and perhaps the most misunderstood, stage of a moth's life: the caterpillar. For many gardeners, that word alone is enough to trigger alarm. But without caterpillars, the garden begins to unravel. They're the foundation of so many food chains, supporting the birdsong at dawn and the flicker of bats at dusk. Remove them, and these familiar sounds and sights begin to disappear. Speaking of birds, the RSPB's executive director Emma Marsh