The Waterlooville Cycling Gardener

13/06/2019

The mesmorisingly beautiful Bramble ❤️

Found in blanchardstown in 2013 bramble was an older hog even then!, out during the day circling and blind he was probably hit by a car. He was covered in ticks and fleas and was beyond dehydrated. We debated whether or not to put him to sleep but he the end it was he himself who decided he was going nowhere fast and happily tucked into his dinner on the first day.

Due to the fact he was blinded and elderly anyway we decided on a retirement home for him. He now lives in swords with Suzanne and her family in a large enclosed garden where is is free to roam. He continues to hibernate every year and comes to us for regular health checks.

He must be at least 8 or 9 now, possibly more.

He will always have a special place in my heart being one of the first hedgehogs we ever admitted.

Such a gentleman. We are so happy he decided to stick around and fight on. His spikes are orange and his nose is pink, a sign of old age in a hedgehog. Such beauties.

13/06/2019

W**dy Wednesday - Bramble This week's plant in our Wednesday W**d series is the bramble. Thorny, strong growing, but bears delicious fruit. In this weekly series, we take a quick look at common garden weeds. How they grow, what benefits they bring to the garden, and how to manage them. Organic growe...

01/04/2019

https://www.gardenersworld.com/plants/10-ways-to-help-hedgehogs/

Discover 10 ways in which you can make your garden a haven for hedgehogs.

16/10/2018

Hedgehogs need our help!

Hedgehogs are in trouble as their numbers have declined sharply in recent years due to a number of factors and the RHS have provided home gardeners with seven good ways in which they can help:

1⃣ Make square hog holes' in the bases of your solid garden boundaries to help reverse habitat fragmentation.

2⃣ Provide log and leaf piles, compost heaps or bespoke hedgehog 'hibernation houses' in quiet corners.

3⃣ Hedgehogs require drinking bowls of fresh water so if you have a pond make sure one side slopes gently.

4⃣ Leave a few windfallen fruit on the ground.

5⃣ Offer commercial hedgehog food, wet cat food or cat biscuits (No milk or bread).

6⃣ Avoid using pesticides.

7⃣ Extra feeding is important in autumn, as the hedgehogs need to fatten up for hibernation.

You can read the full article in this month's issue of 'The Garden' magazine and watch the video below for more advice: https://www.rhs.org.uk/videos/Wildlife/How-to-help-our-hedgehogs

16/10/2017

Make new plants from your favourite tomatoes.

14/09/2017

Request your FREE guide today!

14/09/2017

No.4 - Love your weeds!

They often provide vital food for such as and . You can manage by pulling them out by hand.

Destroy the roots, but add the valuable foliage to your heap. Just don’t use toxic chemicals.

And if you want to keep your hard surfaces clear, make the weeds a cup of tea. Pour some boiling water on them, when making your own cuppa ☕