The Scottish Wildlife Trust, in partnership with North
Lanarkshire Council and 29 other organisations, is
working to protect and enhance wildlife in North Lanarkshire through the Local Biodiversity Action Partnership.

   As part of LBAP's Action Plan, they are asking the community to become involved by carrying out various actions on their own doorstep which can help local wildlife.

   Gardeners are asked to make their gardens more wildlife
friendly by planting native plants.

   This is something that can be done at any time of the year,
but June is a month when planting activity tends to increase.

   The LBAP Partnership is particularly keen to see people
taking pro-active action in their gardens because of the huge
potential of the combined garden space within North
Lanarkshire which is arguably the equivalent of several large
nature reserves.

   Andrew Jones of the Scottish Wild Life Trust said: "This is
an ideal way for the people of North Lanarkshire to make their own contribution without any additional effort or cost - in
fact in many ways it is cheaper to be a wildlife gardener
than a traditional gardener.

   It doesn't mean though that this is an excuse to abandon
the garden or be lazy - wildlife gardening can be just as
time consuming and requires the development of gardening skills, though these might be slightly different."

   Andrew added: "The idea is that if we plant native plants
in the garden, these in turn provide food and breeding places for a whole range of animals that can be enticed into the garden.

   Exotic species of garden plant are often suggested to
be nectar or berry sources, but native plants are much preferred by our wild birds and insects.

   The Scottish Wildlife Trust can provide suggested plant
lists and names of suppliers to anyone who enquires."

   Gardeners are also urged to investigate what native
plants are available at their local gardening centres and encourage them to stock them if they do not do so already.

   If they cannot find a supply, the Scottish Wildlife Trust at
the Jupiter wildflower nursery on 01234 494974 or e-mail
wildflowernursery@swt.org.uk will supply sources of native
plants or seed.

   Pictured below with Joe Tierney of B&Q Stores, who
kindly donated the prizes, are Mr. Gordon Patrick from Kilsyth, Sally Donaldson of SEPA and Mrs. Catherine Rodman from Holytown who won water butts in the March
competition.

   Watch out for the next group of winners who have won
bags of peat-free compost from B&Q Stores in the April LBPA competition.

   Joe Tierney is also pictured below with Sarah Watts
from North Lanarkshire Council's Community Services
with the peat-free alternative compost.

   If you would like to win some wildlife seeds, planter
pots or gardening hand tools, answer this question:

   Q. What kind of garden plants are the best sources of
nectar or berry for our garden wildlife?

   Send your answer on a postcard , with your name and contact details, to Andrew Jones at the Scottish Wildlife Trust, Jupiter Urban Wildlife Centre, Wood Street, Grangemouth FK3 8HL.