North Lanarkshire Council, in partnership with 30 other organisations,
is working to protect and encourage wildlife in North Lanarkshire.

    There are many actions that you can take on your own doorstep
that will help improve the environment for local wildlife.

    In the coming months, the North Lanarkshire Biodiversity
Partnership (LBAP) will advise ways to encourage more wildlife
into your gardens or backyard space and this month they are going
to look at the animals you might expect to see visiting your garden.

    A variety of animals are active at this time of year and, depending
on what type of plants you have in your garden, you could see many
of them paying a visit to your garden.

    Butterflies are one example of a creature that visits gardens in
large numbers and great diversity and some you might expect to
see are: Peacock, Small Tortoiseshell, Red Admiral, Painted Lady,
Green Veined White, Orange Tip.

    To help encourage these species into your garden, try planting
Budlleia, Lavender, Marjoram, Honeysuckle, and Sweet Rocket.

    Birds are also frequent visitors of gardens. Many garden birds
are in decline and this is mainly caused by habitat.

    You can encourage them by putting up nest boxes or by planting
small fruit bearing trees like Wild Cherry, Hawthorn or Blackthorn
or by incorporating them into a hedge.

    If you do not have enough space for the nectar producing plants
that attract insects, seed producing can also help.

    Examples of there include Teasel, Raspberry, Knapweed, Brambles,
Honeysuckle and Lavender.

    Wall climbers, like ivy, can also provide important places for birds
to nest and rest up in.

    Some birds you may see in your garden include: Thrush, Blue Tit,
Great Tit, Blackbird, Chaffinch, Sparrow.

    Garden ponds can attract frogs, toads, newts, dragonflies and
damselflies.

    If you don't already have a pond, why not try making one to help
improve the environment for your local wildlife and to help improve
your own quality of life.

    To help LBAP monitor what's going on in North Lanarkshire, they
would like to know about the wildlife that visits your garden.

    So why not take part in their hedgehog survey and let them know
if you have any spiny visitors visiting your garden.

    Further details on the survey can be obtained from Jenny Storey
on 01236 780636.

    Every month, LBAP have been providing some super prizes in their
monthly competitions.

   This month there is a super garden bench to be won.

   To enter this month's competition, please send your answer to the
following question on a postcard (remember to include your name and
contact details) to Jenny Storey, Ecologist, Palacerigg Country Park,
Cumbernauld.

    The first correct entry drawn from the bag by Monday 29 July 2002
will win a garden bench.

    Q. What species of butterfly is also a well known and beautiful bird ?