Swings + Roundabouts Summer 2020

With the diminishing of biodiversity within our soils and many species within our gardens and local habitats we need to encourage regeneration though creating friendly habitats for some of our smallest creatures who in return will create diversity within our own spaces as well as curiosity and knowledge-building for tamariki. Bees need all the help they can get and we can make a big difference just by creating a bee-friendly space. When it comes to creating a bee-friendly garden, flowers that produce pollen and nectar will naturally attract bumblebees and honeybees. Bees like flowers that make good landing platforms or tubular flowers with nectar at the base – like daises, dandelions or snapdragons. Also consider planting flowers like borage, foxgloves, marigolds, salvias, sunflowers (bees can’t really see red, but love blue, purple, violet, yellow, orange and white). Plant trees, climbers and bushes, including hebe, lavender, and wisteria. And don’t forget our natives, such as the New Zealand jasmine, harakeke, pohutukawa, mānuka, rewarewa, and lemonwood. Just CREATING A CREATURE FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT like everything else, bees need water to survive, so having a water container is important. Make sure the water container is not too deep, so the bees don't drown. To support bees place some small stones or float some pieces of wood in your bird bath, or purchase a bird bath with a very gentle sloping outside edge. Fountains and moving water are much loved by bees, butterflies and other insects – but not mosquitoes, who need still water to lay their eggs in and who doesn't love the sound of running water! Tamariki love looking for insects and spiders, and in so many centres where we have safety mattings and artificial grass only, we need to encourage bugs into our spaces. Apart from being wonderful critters in their own right, insects and spiders are also food for many other creatures. There are plenty of beneficial bugs you can welcome into your backyard. Swan plants are a favourite for attracting Monarch butterflies (but make sure you have enough plants for the caterpillars) and the opportunity for tamariki to witness the life cycle of the Monarch butterfly. Butterflies are great pollinators and beautiful to watch. If you can try planting nectar sources like hebe, salvia, marigold, echinacea to give the adult butterflies a floral feast. Spiders don’t need much encouragement to move in, other than being left alone. Their webs will do a great job of keeping the backyard bug population steady. And they themselves are a source of food for birds like Piwakawaka (Fantail), as are the moths, mozzies and other insects that they catch. It’s the circle of life in action! Insect hotels work well too. You can buy these, but they are easy to make if space allows and of course getting tamariki to make them, allows them the opportunity December 2020 { 32 }