u/PantsInABinbag

Following on from my photos of my garden, I thought some of you might like to sit with me in a somewhat blustery golden hour. You can hear a chorus of goldfinches (all of which started visiting when I established my meadow - they love the seed heads), wood pigeons, song thrushes, blackbirds, doves, and in the background there is a goldcrest, a greenfinch or two, a chiff chaff and a black cap (although I'm not sure they can be heard on my phone mic!) Sorry for the video quality - it's not exactly an editing masterpiece...

If anyone wants any advice or help getting started with wildlife gardening, please feel free to ask away.

I love that my garden really is a haven for wildlife and my favourite place to be.

It's not to everyone's taste but this is my meadow garden. It's cared for with nature in mind, and the philosophy that we borrow and share the space with other creatures. No pesticides, no deterrents, everything in harmony. The veg is protected by the frogs and toads - lettuce, peas, beans all remaining untouched by virtue of the amphibian army. All compost is home made. It isn't based around planting and has cost next to nothing except time. It was overgrown with brambles and grass when I moved in. Some might say it's still overgrown!

I try to balance being able to use the space for family life (kids, dog etc) with not being too tidy and guiding nature rather than fighting it, going with it instead of against it. It's a 1950s ex-council house so we're really lucky to have a good amount of space to have lawn, vegetables, orchard, hens and meadow garden. They had different priorities back then. Ponds are a 1930s claw foot bath, Belfast sinks and a washing up bowl sunk into the ground, affectionately known as Froggy Bottom. We've a regular population of 16 or so frogs in there! The bee 'hives' are actually solitary bee populations (I don't like saying hotels) I made from scrap wood and my talented wife painted for me.

Please be kind. First post and I wanted to share in the hope someone else might make a little space for nature too.