Telephone
Garden centre: 01243 512525
Restaurant: 01243 511156
Fax: 01243 512367
Opening Hours
Monday to Saturday - 8.30 - 5.30
Sunday - 10.00 - 4.00
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Main Rd
Birdham
Chichester
West Sussex
PO20 7BY
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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
"We never manage to "drive by"... always a lovely place to stop and enjoy. Superb coffee, fantastic cakes - and on a cold day tuck yourself by the fire. Such helpful willing staff. The nursery, the ideas, the products - outstanding range. Quite possibly the best place to be at any time. Ignore the others.. Russells is a trip out and always a pleasure (even for us from Portsmouth). "
Left by Steve Richardson on 2011-12-21
"Visited with a friend for lunch today, wow! food looked and tasted fantastic beyond my expectation enjoyed every mouthful, credit where credit due, thankyou Russells for a wonderful enjoyable experience, I'll be back"
Left by v lansberry on 2011-11-24
"Have visited russells so many times, its like being at home, infact better than home,the lovely cakes the lovely gifts, friendly staffs well worth a weekend or any day visit,its fantastic,keep it up please,richard you are so kind and friendly,many thanks,the very best wishes to you all,"
Left by marie on 2011-09-01
"Absolutely love this place! I live in London but visit Selsey a few times a year and visiting Russells is the highlight of my visit-Great products and a lovely atmosphere."
Left by Miahs Mummy on 2011-05-28
"What a fabulous place. The garden centre and restaurant are excellent, with first class staff. Congratulations! "
Left by Jo on 2011-05-02
"Visited your restaurant for the first time today and oh my goodness the scones were the best I have ever had - would love the recipe. We shall certainly be back to try some of your other delights. A big thankyou"
Left by Christine Whipp on 2011-05-02