Dead materials November is the traditional time for gardeners to tidy up, with bonfire night the perfect excuse for a good clear-out. However, anyone who wants to encourage wildlife into the garden should take particular care at this time of year.
The dead and decaying plant material is every bit as important in the natural scheme of things as flowers, fruits and green leaves.
By all means rearrange the decay. Wood-boring beetles and fungi are just as happy decomposing a neat stack of logs as an untidy heap and, even though sweeping the lawn may deprive worms of food, if leaves are piled up in a quiet corner where they can rot down gracefully many other creatures will benefit.
Birds The arrival of the first of the winter visitors is always a thrill. Some spectacular birds, such as siskins, redwings and fieldfares, fly south from as far afield as Siberia and northern Scandinavia to spend the winter months in our relatively mild climate. Simply by providing a reliable supply of the right kind of food, it is possible for any gardener to make a personal contribution to international wildlife conservation and enjoy a more interesting view from the window at the same time.
Siskins Siskins are among the many beautiful birds that may visit your garden this winter, having flown south for hundreds of miles to escape the arctic freeze.
Fungi Brightly coloured fungi are just one of the delights of autumn.
Pond-paddling predators Wetland creatures, such as frogs and toads, have now largely disappeared into their damp, dark winter quarters. But the pond water is still relatively warm and if you take a close look you'll see all manner of swimming mini-beasts, including water boatmen and backswimmers. These strange-looking creatures are beetles with specially adapted legs that they use as oars. They spend most of their lives on their backs and are vicious predators, quick to dart at anything struggling on the surface, and also capable of paddling underwater in search of prey.
Birds versus cats Feeding the birds is one way of compensating for the millions that are killed each year by cats, but make sure you're not simply serving up a more convenient source of feathered food for cats. You must hang feeders beyond leaping distance of any undergrowth and if you're plagued with other people's cats, consider electronic cat deterrents. These devices emit a very high-pitched sound when their infrared switch is triggered. Most cats find this unpleasant, but it appears to have no effect on dogs, squirrels and birds. This high-tech remedy has had a positive impact, although there are a few local cats that are either too deaf or too determined to be put off.