Other websites, useful books and wildlife gardening suppliers

It is not always easy to find suppliers or information about wildlife gardening, or to know which books to buy.   You may like to have a look at some other websites that I have found useful and informative, or check out some of the best wildlife gardening books.

For information about growing your own wildflowers and trees from seed, and how to look after them: www.growingnative.org.uk

Ernest Charles is the mail order bird food company I use. They have a real interest in all aspects of wildlife gardening and are efficient and friendly. See their range or order seed, feeders and other wildlife gardening products from www.ernest-charles.com

The British Trust for Ornithology has a good website with lots of information about feeding birds and putting up nest boxes. www.bto.org

An award winning wildlife gardening website can be found at www.abcissa.co.uk/birds

To buy wildlife gardening and identification books online, as well as a range of other wildlife related products, try the Wildlife Trusts site at www.thewildlifeshop.co.uk

For an excellent website with loads of information about birds try www.rspb.org.uk

If you are interested in artificial bee nests for the garden, the Oxford Bee Company site at www.oxbeeco.co.uk is good, with lots of information about the Red Mason Bee, and its value to gardeners. You can also order bee nesting kits.

Wildlife Gardening Books

There are several good wildlife gardening books around. Here are three of the best that I recommend to participants on my courses.

How to Make a Wildlife Garden by Chris Baines. This book is now a classic and has been revised and updated for the BBC series, Charlie’s Wildlife Gardens. ISBN 0 7112 1711 4

Gardening for Birds. Stephen Moss.   An excellent new book by a professional with a real interest in the subject. Garden bird identification, month by month in the garden, plants for birds etc.  ISBN 0 00 220168 2

Creating a Wildlife Garden by Bob and Liz Gibbons. A book with lots of good ideas and beautiful photos. ISBN 0 600 33384 1 (possibly now out of print) 

Gardening with Nature by Jenny Steel

A small selection of wildlife gardening booklets by Jenny Steel and other authors is available from this website.  Click  here for more information and an order form.

Plant and Seed Suppliers

John Shipton supplies native bulbs and some wildflower plants.     Tel: 01994 240125 www.bluebellbulbs.co.uk

Emorsgate Seeds supply wildflower seeds and meadow mixes.      Tel: 01553 829028

Chiltern Seeds have seeds of many cottage garden plants.  Tel  01229 581137 www.chilternseeds.co.uk

Really Wild Flowers has a good range of wildflower plants. Tel. 01747 811778 www.reallywildflowers.co.uk