Only include birds that land, not those flying over. Count the highest number of each species you see at any one time, otherwise you could count the same bird twice. For example, if you saw a group of eight starlings, and towards the end of the hour you saw two starlings together, please record eight as your final count. Birds need to eat at regular intervals, to keep their daily energy levels consistent, and cannot spend the whole day sheltering. Butterfly Box –This lovely collection of mostly purple, pink and blue flowers is designed to attract butterflies to our gardens, balconies and window boxes and uses only flowers recommended by Butterfly Conservation. Includes purple loosestrife, forget-me-not, musk mallow, red campion and yarrow. Each box (made from 100% recycled card) contains 6 seed balls, plus a little card insert to explain what the balls are and how to use them. Incredibly easy to use – simply scatter on top of soil or compost (no digging or expertise required!) and nature will do the rest! One box will cover 1-2 pots. Use 6 boxes per square metre in a garden. Best scattered in Spring or Autumn. dimensions: Beetle Box –The ideal mix to attract ladybirds and pollinating beetles, who are really important for our garden ecosystems (did you know that beetles pollinated the first flowers at the time of the dinosaurs!). The mix includes common knapweed, cornflower, cow parsley, field scabious, foxglove, great burnet and yarrow.

During the autumn months, the soil will still be relatively warm, having stored up energy from the summer sun. There is usually extra moisture in the air too, and both of these conditions work together to aid germination, which provides seeds with the best possible start. Sky Meadow: All blue flowering mix that includes cornflower, forget-me-not, meadow cranesbill, self heal and wild clary. View full product listing.

Okay, that’s more than enough to get you started on your butterflying journey. Beyond those twenty species lies an array of further delights, from the moth-like Skippers to the legendary Purple Emperor, via my favourites, the characterful Hairstreaks! Bird Mix: Wildflowers for attracting seed and insect-eating garden birds – common poppy, corn marigold, great knapweed, sheep sorrel, tufted vetch and wild carrot. View full product listing. For many seeds, Autumn is actually the best season to sow, as Seedball co-founder Dr Emily Attlee, explains:

X1seed~1". Archived from the original on 2006-04-11. Making Seed Balls, by Jim Bones, he learned personally from Fukuoka Masanobu and from his books.

Adler, Margot (April 15, 2009). "Environmentalists Adopt New Weapon: Seed Balls". NPR . Retrieved November 9, 2011. What's a clay ball?" and "Clay Ball Method" advice derived directly from Fukuoka Masanobu by The RainMaker Project, a major project in Africa by Yokohama Art Project, Japanese NGO.