wildlife gardening – compost heap – London Tree Surgeons

wildlife gardening – compost heap – encourage bugs, birds and reptiles.

A compost heap is important in any garden. You can use it to recycle all your kitchen and garden waste into rich, organic compost that’s great for the soil and plants.

Compost can be used to improve the soil structure and drainage, as a mulch to cut down on water loss, and as a fertiliser to improve the soil’s fertility. Making compost is cheap and easy. You can build your own container to hold the organic matter while it decays, or buy a wooden or plastic bin.

Inside the compost, worms and fungi feed on the rotting vegetable matter. Insect predators feed on the slugs, insects and other invertebrates that are attracted to the heap. Birds visit to seek out insects and seeds. Some animals, such as common newts and slow worms (pictured), shelter there during the day.