SPRING is nearly here, the first daffodils are out, and members of the Worcestershire Wildlife Trust Malvern Group have observed bees and frog spawn in their gardens.

What can we do to encourage more wildlife to thrive this year? Rachel Salisbury’s talk on Thursday evening entitled The Conservation Garden provided many ideas and discussed the environmental issues behind the choices we all make when planning what to plant in our gardens.

A conservation garden does not have to be unkempt. While there may be corners left not tidied, or a fallen log left where it fell, the plants can be planned and managed in relatively formal designs, if you so wish.

A wide range of plants is a good idea, as monocultures are prone to pest damage, and also look attractive for only short periods. It is best to know and understand your garden, encouraging plants which are naturally at home there, growing drought resistant plants in dry soils for example, and not trying to turn alkaline soil into acid.

Containers look attractive, but one must consider the problem of watering them right through the summer months, which may not be ecologically desirable.

A pond is always a great habitat for wildlife – even a small one will attract frogs, newts, water-loving insects and birds.

A bird table and nest boxes will provide food and protection. It is better to manage without pesticides and other chemicals if possible, not least because most sprays are not particular to one type of insect, and will kill beneficial ones as well as pests.

Some people are adamant that only native species of plants should be grown in our gardens. It is difficult to define precisely what native means, however, and indeed there are some native species one would definitely prefer not to have in the garden, such as the creeping buttercup.

Celandines, marsh marigolds, primroses, violets and honesty are all very attractive. Single varieties of most species are better for attracting bees and other pollinaters; the doubles are pretty but the bees can’t reach the pollen. There is no need to feel guilty about having some more exotic species however. The buddleia is a prime example of a non-native plant which attracts more butterflies and moths than almost any other common species.

Gardening should not be a battle, but an enjoyable and harmonious process. We are part of the ecology, and gardens are for our benefit as well as the plants and wildlife we hope to encourage.

Meetings are held at the Chase sixth form annexe, Geraldine Close.

The next one is a talk by Rob Allen, Reserves officer of WWT, on wetlands creation and conservation, on Thursday, March 29, at 7.30 pm.