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Climbers
Climbers are a shrub with the ability to grow up and over structures such as walls, fences, trees or through a hedge. They are a good way of attracting wildlife where space is limited.
The two best wildlife-friendly climbers are ivy and honeysuckle. Even if you only have a balcony or patio, a pot grown climber can be grown up a trellis or over a balcony railing.
'The two best wildlife-friendly climbers are ivy and honeysuckle.'
Our native ivy (Hedera helix) is the perfect wildlife plant. Contrary to what most people believe, ivy won't damage a wall but is likely to offer it protection and a degree of insulation. However if you let it climb into gutters or around pipes, it can dislodge them and damage paintwork. There is a host of different cultivars of varying shades and shapes.
Honeysuckle, unlike ivy, isn't self supporting so you will need to provide a trellis or wires. It's great for covering arches and pergolas, or scrambling over a fence or shed. The bark on mature honeysuckle provides good nest-building material and the plant attracts a wide range of insects.
One of our most popular garden climbers is clematis. Our native variety, old man's beard (Clematis vitalba) is found on chalky soils in the south and in the Midlands is unlikely to be found in most nurseries. Many cultivated varieties are available and will attract insects and serve as shelter for birds.
Last modified: 03 December 2009