Latest news with #GreenFeathers
Daily Mirror
02-07-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mirror
Brits urged to complete important window check now before flying ants swarm UK
Thanks to the warm and occasionally wet weather the UK has experienced this summer, flying ant swarms are expected to be worse than usual but there's an easy remedy to help prevent the pesky insects from getting into your home It's a natural annual occurrence that fills many with dread as the skies and air swarm with thousands of winged creatures. It's difficult to predict exactly when flying ant day will arrive as it's weather dependent, but we know it's usually around the third week of July, although it can come as early as Wimbledon week. It's most likely to take place when the temperature is above 25 degrees Celsius, with low wind, and a chance of rain in the following days. Despite popular belief that it only happens one day a year, the phenomenon actually occurs over several weeks. It happens when a new Queen is ready to start a colony and leaves the nest accompanied by thousands of males. There aren't many things you can do to prevent the critters getting stuck in your hair or fluttering around your face, aside from staying indoors while it takes place. So you need to make sure they can't easily get into your home too. James Ewens, a gardening and wildlife expert from Green Feathers has shared his top tips for keeping your safe sanctuary creepy-crawly-free. He says it's important to check entry points around your windows, doors and pipework. If there are any cracks, use a sealant to secure them and stop the flying ants from pestering you indoors. When it comes to windows, you could also install fly screens to prevent them entering. This will mean you can still keep an air flow coming in on hot days and won't have to melt while you're stuck inside watching them rise from the ground. Make sure you clear up any spillages of food and drink in your house, ensuring you sweep up any debris from under units and appliances too. Store food in airtight containers and make sure your bin lid is closed and secure. Uneaten pet food should also be cleared away so as to not attract them. Foraging ants lay down pheromone trails to direct other ants to food, so use a strong cleaning detergent to remove any traces and keep them off the scent. James doesn't recommend using chemical based ant sprays and says it's always better for the environment to opt for essential oils and natural ingredients instead. "A good repellent for flying ants is to create a homemade spray made from one part dish soap and two parts water, plus one or two drops of peppermint oil, all mixed together in a spray bottle," he says. "Spritz wherever you find ants." Once you've taken all these precautions, it's worth remembering that they may be annoying and make us recoil and shudder but flying ants are harmless and can't hurt humans. James points out that they are also great for the environment. "Their increased numbers gives birds in the area a brilliant source of food," he reveals. And they're good for your garden too. "As the females dig into the soil upon landing to try and start a new colony, flying ants aerate the soil, and they also recycle nutrients, and are natural pest controllers," he says.
Daily Record
24-04-2025
- General
- Daily Record
Exact bird box that will attract robins to your garden and keep them coming back
Robins are a welcome sight in the garden as for many people, they've come to represent a connection with loved ones who have passed away. Seeing the red-breasted birds is sometimes thought to be a sign that someone is watching over you and is maybe one reason the sight of them is welcomed by so many people. But they are also a great ally for gardeners too as they feast on insects, worms and spiders, offering natural pest control and their foraging can help to aerate your soil too. Add to that their pretty appearance and sing song chirps, it's no wonder they're one of Britain's best loved birds. Attracting them to your garden and keeping them coming back, however, can be difficult if you don't have the right nesting spot or bird box for this discerning creature. They can be picky when it comes to where they like to hang out. They like certain types of bird boxes and they won't wait about if it's not available. James Ewens, a gardening expert at Green Feathers , explained that they won't nest in a bird box that has the wrong shaped entrance and they're also fussy about where it's positioned too. He told Ideal Home that the little feathered divas won't stick around for long unless their rider is met. He said: "Robins won't go near the classic bird boxes with the tiny round holes, they are great for smaller birds like blue tits . What you need is an open-fronted bird box, with a wide entrance, and a clear view. "Robins like to keep an eye on their surroundings, and they tend to nest lower to the ground. "Something simple and open - ideally made of natural wood - is perfect." But James stressed that you need to situate it in the garden facing north east. He added: "Robins prefer open-fronted boxes placed between north and east to avoid direct midday sun and prevailing winds. "This orientation keeps the interior shaded and dry, mimicking the sheltered nooks they naturally nest in." The height that they are placed at is also important if you want repeat visits from the red-breasted beauties. James said they need to be mounted 1.5 metres from the ground and should be tucked away in shrubbery or hedges too to give them a 'sense of cover'. Locating your bird box in a tranquil spot in the garden is also a good idea. Providing them with food will also help and you can buy seed and insect mixes which is suitable for them. If you do all of this, there is a good chance they will see your garden as a safe space and a place to return to year after year, added James. He said: "And trust me, once you have robins nesting , it's a real joy."
