Nothing in Basket!
- Location: Suffolk
- Conditions: Feels like autumn has finally arrived, sandy soil, windy location
- Garden Stars: Cosmos, Valerian, Corn Marigold, miniature Buddleia and Salvia.
- Wildlife Visitors: Hedgehogs, deer, various birds, field mice, and lots of unidentified bugs
We have heard on the grapevine that waxwings have been spotted nearby in Norfolk, so it won't take them long to reach us here in Suffolk. I always look forward to spotting winter visitors such as Fieldfares and Redwings as the cold sets in.
The unusually warm weather continued right up to the last day of October, with Hummingbird hawk-moths still visiting the garden alongside late butterflies and other insects. Ladybirds are now starting to hunker down in sheltered nooks for the colder months ahead. On the 1st November, the temperature dropped sharply by 10°C, so the heating finally went on. The trees are changing colour, turning shades of yellow, ochre, rich copper, and burnished bronze.
I realised I got my dates mixed up regarding bird feeding and put the feeders out a month early! I've taken them back in for now and will wait to put them back out until after the fireworks season dies down. Moving to Suffolk originally offered relief from constant fireworks, but now celebrations seem to stretch from early November right into mid-January. It does make me wonder about the disruption this causes to local wildlife.
The back garden has been left entirely alone to die back naturally for winter. However, the front garden required some attention to balance wildlife value with village tidiness. Thanks to the mild autumn, wildflower seedlings and vigorous weeds grew thickly. I spent a week carefully thinning out the self-seeded wildflowers and removing aggressive unwanted weeds. If we get a severe frost, some seedlings may not survive, but if the winter remains mild, the strongest will give us an early floral display before we sow fresh seeds in spring.
Remarkably, flowers are still blooming into November. Even our single remaining Cherry Laurel is in full flower! The Pyracantha hedge is still laden with berries, and a Blackbird has been sitting among the branches, stripping berries or jumping up from the ground to knock them loose. The Solanum jasminoides 'Album' added this year is flowering strongly, creating a thick, lush shelter for insects.
Our nocturnal wildlife cameras captured a busy field mouse popping out of his burrow, running to the Pyracantha bush for berries, and hurrying back to store his harvest; he continued this routine for ten straight minutes! Deer continue to visit, and local hedgehogs are still active.
It remains dry overall. While we've had a few gloomy days and some rain, precipitation is far below previous years. Embracing a relaxed approach, allowing plants to survive on their own merit, has paid off: we successfully used 12,500 fewer litres of water across 2026 compared to last year. However, we may be using less, but the bills are still higher than last year.
Practical November Jobs for a Resilient Wildlife Garden
- Plant Bare-Root Trees: Winter is the prime season for planting bare-root trees and shrubs. Consider what resources you want to offer your local wildlife: Berries, seeds, nuts, foliage, or nesting cover. Always measure the space available in your garden before choosing a tree. Check the mature height and spread of the species beforehand to avoid interference with overhead cables, roads, boundary walls, and buildings.
- Propagate Free Plants: Late autumn is ideal for lifting and dividing established perennials, such as Salvias, through the root system to create new plants. You can also take hardwood cuttings to fill empty border gaps or share with neighbours.
- Selective Weeding: Mild autumn temperatures encourage weed growth. Focus on removing invasive species that threaten to smother delicate plants, while leaving beneficial self-seeders that add diversity. In other words if you like a weed, then keep it.
- Provide Fresh Water & Food: Maintain clean, shallow water sources and appropriate food for birds and hedgehogs. Not all hedgehogs hibernate, and natural food supplies diminish as frost sets in.
Observations and Doing Our Bit
Our larger window installations are proving very effective. The house retains heat better, allowing us to set our thermostat 3°C lower than in previous years. Opening privacy nets during sunny winter days allows passive solar heat to warm the living space while giving us a clear view of the garden wildlife. It also lets as much natural light into the living space as possible.
Bring Nature Home: As seed sowing pauses for winter, explore our range of hand-illustrated botanical bookmarks, art prints, and digital gift vouchers.