Telephone
Garden centre: 01243 512525
Restaurant: 01243 511156
Fax: 01243 512367
Opening Hours
Monday to Saturday - 8.30 - 5.30
Sunday - Closed
Come See Us
Main Rd
Birdham
Chichester
West Sussex
PO20 7BY
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Free Parking
Wheelchair Access
Home | Wildlife and birdcare advice
Chickens
We have been keeping happy chickens at Russells for the last 11 years, they have complete freedom to roam the whole garden centre helping us to keep the nasty bugs at bay and providing eggs for our restaurant.
Each spring brings a new clutch of baby chicks.
We are highly recomended by the battery hen welfare trust and they have awarded us an eggsellence award for using only free range eggs in our restaurant, we feature on their website www.bhwt.org.uk where you will find abundant information on why you should only buy eggs laid by free range chickens and free a hen from her cage today!
We now have 4 new additions to our chicken family - beautiful pekin bantams from Foxhollow animal rescue centre. Click here for more details on Chickens
Tips and advice for wildlife gardening
A good wildlife garden is more than just a corner of a garden left to go wild.
Provide as many habitats as possible, but avoid cramming too much in and focus on what can be done well in the space you have. A lawn, trees and shrubs, flowers and water are key habitats.
Look to create smaller microhabitats within these. Here are a few examples:
Long grass provides habitat for egg laying and over wintering of caterpillars and leather jackets. Blackbirds and starlings search for leather jackets (cranefly grubs) in short grass. Different species of tree and shrub and flowering plants provide nectar and other food sources through the year.
A water feature with different depths is great for wildlife. Shallow areas are used by bathing and drinking birds, emerging dragonflies and somewhere for amphibians to lay eggs. Deeper areas help aquatic insects survive cold spells and are good places to watch newts swimming.
Wildlife require two fundamental things:
somewhere safe to breed and shelter and somewhere to forage throughout the year.
Grow climbers against walls to provide shelter and roosting and breeding sites for birds.
A thick, well-developed, thorny shrub bed or hedge provides nest sites and shelter for wildlife.
A bat box provides roosting sites for bats, a pile of leaves may be used by a hibernating hedgehog and a bird box provides somewhere for birds to raise their broods. Leave tidying of borders and shrubs until late winter or early spring to provide shelter for insects through winter.
Brimstone butterflies breed on buckthorn bushes.
Short lengths of drinking straws, hollow canes or plant stems, tied in bundles are excellent nesting sites for beneficial lacewings and ladybirds.
Dead wood is good for beetles and other specialist beneficial insects, fungi and mosses. Somewhere to forage and feed
Creating a range of habitat niches provides different areas and opportunities for wildlife to feed at different times of year.
Early and late flowering plants provide nectar for insects at critical times - just after emergence or prior to hibernation. Tidy borders and cut shrubs in late winter and early spring to help retain seeds and fruit for birds and small mammals throughout winter. Ivy is a late source of autumn nectar for insects and late winter fruit for birds.
Fruiting bushes are a good source of food for birds and mammals during the autumn and part of the winter.
Annual plants that produce many seeds in late summer are a good source of seed for birds through autumn into winter. Many baby birds need insects - a good source of protein - if they are to grow strong and healthy and survive the winter. A variety of garden plants encourages these insects.
Many of our actions have an impact on wildlife beyond our gardens. Consider this when choosing or using your materials when creating your wildlife garden. Save rainwater for watering your garden and only top up your pond when necessary. Avoid using peat and use alternative forms of compost, peat extraction destroys vital wildlife habitats.
Remember top up your bird feeders all year round Click here for more details on Tips and advice for wildlife gardening
Recent Comments
"your website mentions everything from gifts, garden furniture and restaurant. Do you sell plants?"
Left by j johnston on 2010-09-03
"This is a really modern garden centre, with a fantastic selection of garden furniture and interestingly house furniture. We have bought many items and have not been dissappointed"
Left by Paul Jarvis on 2010-08-25
"This is a rather late, but nevertheless heartfelt, thank you. I came down to the area for a holiday the week before Easter and, as I drove towards the seaside, remembered I had visited the nursery before and spent time looking at your coastal bits and bobs. I decided to stop off for lunch. You were really busy and at first I thought it wouldn’t be possible, but the lady had a friendly and positive attitude and soon found me a magic spot on the sofa by the open fire. I had the most fabulous Welsh rarebit whilst surrounded by many others enjoying delicious your fare. A little piece of heaven - thank you! "
Left by Anne - Marie Plume on 2010-07-29
"Visited while passing through last weekend. Beautiful furniture and furnishings - only wish I lived closer, coming from Buckinghamshire! Certainly will be visiting again soon. Unfortunately didn't have time to sample the restaurant which looks fab."
Left by Laura on 2010-06-11
"I visted your store last Saturday 5th June and was extremely impressed with the excellent customer service, product ranges and your pricing which seemed pretty unbeatable to me. I will definitely be visiting you again."
Left by Angela Egan on 2010-06-07
"Visited local friends last week over halfterm with two kiddies aged 5 and 3. Had the best bacon sandwich I've ever tasted and enjoyed my children eating the most beautiful fresh brunch, including the welsh rarebit with big juicy tomatoes which was amazing."
Left by Lavens on 2010-06-07