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Our Plant of the Month
Hamamelis (Witch Hazel)
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One
of the most spectacular plants in January is
Hamamelis or Witch Hazel with the added
bonus of brightly coloured leaves during the
Autumn. The delicious scent from the spidery
flowers is lovely at this time of year; bring a
few flowering branches indoors to enjoy them all
day long. The flower colours vary from bright
yellow, through orange to a deep orange red,
they appear in clusters along the bare branches
during the winter and remain until the leaves
arrive in the Spring. The Witch Hazel is a
woodland plant and very low maintenance.
Crocus.co.uk are currently offering four
varieties of Hamamelis, one of which is their
plant of the month, click on the pictures for
more information:
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Hamamelis
mollis
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Hamamelis
x intermedia 'Pallida'
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Hamamelis
x intermedia 'Jelena'
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Hamamelis
x intermedia 'Diane'
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The RSPB recommend
feeding birds throughout the year but this is a most
important time to ensure that your precious garden
birds get through the winter
Here
are the RSPB’s Top Tips for attracting birds to your garden: |
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Put out high protein seed mixes & kitchen scraps
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Put out hanging
feeders containing black sunflower seeds, sunflower hearts,
sunflower-rich mixes or unsalted peanuts
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Ensure a supply of
fresh water every day
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Supply apples and
pears for blackbirds and thrushes
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Fat blocks rubbed
into the bark of trees is a great help for treecreepers,
goldcrests and others
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Put up nest boxes to
provide roost sites for the smaller birds. They will then be
used for breeding later in the year.
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Plant berry-bearing
plants such as hawthorn, rowan, holly, cotoneaster and berberis
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Leave wild, weedy or
shrubby areas in the garden to provide a natural seed
and insect source
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Feed live foods such
as mealworms and waxworms
If you are new to bird feeding, click here to find
out more |
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