Saturday 13th June & Sunday 14th June 2020

WILDLIFE FRIENDLY IN 2020
GARDEN OWNERS - DO YOU HAVE A WILDLIFE FRIENDLY GARDEN?
When you apply to put your garden into this year's festival - and before you complete the application form - take a look at the Wildlife Friendly Code below. If you can fulfill at least 5 of the 10 criteria in the list, then tick the "I have a Wildlife Friendly garden" box at the top of the application form. Your garden entry in the leaflet and on this website will be marked with our "Wildlife Friendly" symbol.
Henfield Festival of Gardens and Arts Wildlife Friendly Code
Henfield Festival of Gardens and Arts has joined the Sustainable Henfield biodiversity project. Some of the gardeners are working to reduce the carbon footprint and provide a more friendly environment for the wildlife that live in their gardens. Festival gardens exhibiting at least 5 of these targets and will be awarded the Wildlife Friendly logo for achieving the Wildlife Friendly Code. The gardeners are happy to discuss how they have achieved these simple changes to their gardening with you.

  • Grow a variety of flowers which provide nectar for pollinators most months of the year – many of the double variety of plants do not encourage insects, so look for open flowers in a variety of heights.
  • Include an area where birds might lay their eggs and feed, such as an area of brambles and nettles, nesting boxes for birds and bats and feeding stations such as bird tables and bird feeders. Ensure these areas are kept safe and clean for the wildlife using them.
  • Use water butts full of rain water to water the garden.
  • Provide woodpiles or bug hotels where insects might live – not being too tidy. A small pile of leaves at the edge of a hedge or wall can be a valuable home for some bugs.
  • Include a wildlife pond with no fish, for frogs, dragonflies etc. This can be as small as a half barrel with a water plant. If wildlife is to crawl in and out, provide a ramp for them to do this.
  • Make your own compost and endeavour not use peat composts. Actively support the collection of green materials from our homes.
  • Replace chemical fertilisers with natural ones such as seaweed extract or comfrey tea. There are many more natural fertilisers in garden centres. Keep soil structure good and fertile by using manures and composts.
  • Replace chemical pesticides and herbicides with good gardening practices. Demonstrate safe practise for controlling slugs and snails with nematodes, copper rings or grit, greenfly with soap washes, or companion planting such as French Marigolds.
  • Minimise the use of single use plastics when buying plants and products and re-use or recycle plant pots, trays and labels.
  • Leave part of your lawn longer so that clover and other flowers can feed pollinators, or plant up an area of these plants in a pot or tray. Mix them in with more formal planting.