A small list of some of the plants I have planted to help the wildlife and birds in the garden. Please bear with me with some of the names as I am still learning.
SHRUBS
Guelder rose - Viburnum Opulus
The beautiful guelder rose is a spreading, bushy, asymmetrical shaped shrub. The flat, cream/white, 'lace-cap' flowerheads appear in May or June and are visited by many insects including hoverflies. The maple-like, green leaves turn to stunning shades of red, orange and yellow in autumn. The large clusters of round, brilliant red, glossy - almost translucent - fruits remain on the plant throughout the winter and look particularly attractive against a background of snow, at least until they are eaten by birds! Grow this hardy shrub in sun or partial shade in moist but well-drained soil.
The common name 'guelder' comes from Gelderland, the Dutch province where the tree was first taken into cultivation. There is a garden variety Viburnum opulus 'Compactum' which may be more suitable for small gardens but if you have room, grow this in a hedge with other native species of berry-bearing shrubs like elder, spindle, hawthorn and blackthorn to provide colour for you and food for birds throughout the winter.
ELDER (Sambucus Nigra Black Lace)
This recent introduction has almost black, dissected foliage and from May to June pale pink blooms emerge from beautiful creamy-pink buds. It makes an excellent shrub for all styles of gardens and has the added bonus of having blackish-red berries in autumn which are attractive to birds.
Other features: almost black, dissected leaves and blackish red berries in autumn
Hardiness: fully hardy
Tutsan - Hypericum androsaemum
This is one of the larger hypericums. Tutsan is a shrubby plant with red stems and bright, golden yellow flowers, with pincushion stamens, in terminal clusters. The fruits are red berries which turn black when fully ripe and are eaten and spread by birds. The leaves are found in opposite pairs and are broad and oval. Tutsan grows wild in open woods, hedgerows and limestone pavement. This is an attractive small shrub, but one which seeds freely and can become rather invasive.
BERBERIS DARWINII
It is an evergreen thorny shrub growing to 3–4 m tall, with dense branches from ground level. The leaves are small oval, 12-25 mm long and 5–12 mm broad, with a spiny margin; they are borne in clusters of 2–5 together, subtended by a three-branched spine 2–4 mm long. The flowers are orange, 4–5 mm long, produced in dense racemes 2–7 cm long in spring. The fruit is a small purple-black berry 4–7 mm diameter, ripening in summer.
B. darwinii was discovered (in Western science) in South America in 1835 by Charles Darwin during the voyage of the 'Beagle'; however, the berries of this species were consumed by prehistoric native peoples in the Patagonian region over millennia. The species was one of many named in honour of Darwin.
I have at least three of these dotted about the woodland area. One is a supposedly tall variety with others being a compact version that is not supposed to grow over 2' high. These plants again have superb berries which my father informs me are loved by Blackbirds which he says wait under the shrub impatiently as the berries ripen. The added bonus with this shrub is that it is very prickly indeed so I planted these also to help stop the cats finding comfy places amongst the shrubs. When I do the occasional pruning of the shrub I use the cuttings as deterrents against the cats as I throw the cuttings on the ground.
MAHONIA AQUIFOLIUM (Oregon Grape)
This is a popular garden shrub which flowers in early spring when there is little else in bloom to brighten the March days. It is therefore a welcome and useful source of nectar and pollen for bees. The dense clusters of bell-shaped flowers are bright lemon-yellow. These give way to black berries which may be taken by various species of bird.
It is an evergreen, making a strong architectural statement with glossy, holly-like leaflets. It likes shady places and will grow under trees.
PYRACANTHA, GOLDEN SUN (P. Soleil d’Or, Golden Firethorn)
Dense, prickly, fast growing evergreen hedge, clusters of white flowers in June and masses of berries in autumn and winter. This less usual form has mid to light green leaves and large clusters of deep yellow berries. Shade tolerant. Also excellent for training on a wall of any aspect where a height of 9ft (2.7m) and spread of 12ft (3.7m) can be attained.
PYRACANTHA, ORANGE GLOW (Orange Firethorn)
Dense, prickly, fast growing evergreen hedge, clusters of white flowers in June and masses of berries in autumn and winter. Excellent form with dark green foliage and freely produced orange-red berries. Shade tolerant. Also excellent for training on a wall of any aspect where a height of 9ft (2.7m) and spread of 12ft (3.7m) can be attained.
PYRACANTHA, RED COLUMN (P. coccinea Red Column, Red Firethorn)
The flowers attract many insects. The berries are popular with birds including blackcap and - if you are very lucky indeed - the beautiful waxwing. It also makes a good nesting site for species such as blackbird and song thrush, its long thorns helping to protect the birds from cats.
COTONEASTER SIMONSII
A semi evergreen which I have again planted some of the way down the fence which runs down the garden. The plant gives a nice colour in the autumn with it's leaves turning red. They do hang onto the plant for quite some time but can fall. It also provides berries which are more like mini hips. They are bright orangey/red in colour but again whilst insects use the flowers I have not seen a single bird taking the berries.
Semi-evergreen hedge with glossy, small dark green leaves, some of which turn red in autumn and winter. Small white flowers, tinged pink in June attract honey and bumble bees followed by persistent red berries in autumn. Shade tolerant.