Posted to the All creatures... forum
3 November 2009 4:22 PM
I found this idea in a magazine, it looks very simple to make and I think it will make an interesting feature.
You will need
Lay the logs in a line and mark them using a cane and chalk, (I cut enough wood for two spirals).
Dig a pit that’s deep enough to hold at least half of your longest length (I hit very stony sub soil so mine was only a third of my longest length).
Start with the longest length in the centre of the pit and work your way outwards in decreasing heights.
When all the logs are in the pit, refill the pit firming the soil as you go.
Fill all the gaps with dead leaves.
Drill deep holes of various sizes in the outside logs.
I planted a few plants and added some mossy stones.
My logs weren’t freshly cut and they were closer to large sticks than logs, but something is better than nothing.
Also see wildlife stacks and insect homes!
Life is too short to waste.
3 November 2009 4:38 PM
That looks a great idea for any garden but especially for people with limited ground space who can go upwards more easily than outwards.
3 November 2009 4:43 PM
ooh yes I like the look of that too! Thanks WF!
3 November 2009 4:44 PM
WF, I love that idea. Besides being a home for so many various insects, which on its own is fantastic, it will be like having a wooden sculpture in the garden. We are looking where we could have one. Thank you for posting all the instructions and the idea.
3 November 2009 5:05 PM
Fantastic idea, if only I had a garden to play with!
3 November 2009 5:45 PM
When I saw it I thought it would be good for a small garden or for limited space. With some planting around it, it will make an interesting feature and a real talking point.
KatTai I can’t imagine life without a garden, I’d go stir crazy.
3 November 2009 5:54 PM
Wildlife friendly: When I saw it I thought it would be good for a small garden or for limited space. With some planting around it, it will make an interesting feature and a real talking point. KatTai I can’t imagine life without a garden, I’d go stir crazy.
We do have a garden, just I refuse to do anything with it though due to the neighbours causing grief when I was feeding the birds (yet they were more than happy to let their dogs foul the garden and the brats pull up plants). The house is rented and quite frankly, I want to move anyway to somewhere with a proper garden for the dog and for wildlife. Right now people walk right passed, there is no privacy there at all and because of the neighbours dogs, my own dog can't be left out in the garden because there is a public footpath between our front door and the garden (and the neighbours dogs can and do jump the wall). It's not a good situation and so I refuse to do anything with the garden at all now, it's not worth it.
3 November 2009 6:54 PM
KatTai, as Wf I can't imagine life without our garden, but I fully understand your position. It would be 'soul destroying' to watch others destroy my garden, not being able to stop them. Would your landlord not erect a wooden fence on top of your wall. We did this in our last house (just to give us more privacy).
3 November 2009 7:01 PM
KatTia, that’s areal shame especially as you want to use your garden. Can anything be done to make it better? If not I hope you can find another home and garden which will suit you better.
3 November 2009 7:43 PM
Brilliant idea WF its the sort of thing that appeals to me , will definately go down on my list of to do's
Regards Derek
3 November 2009 7:52 PM
Hi WF
Really good idea - given me even more thoughts with what to do with the wood I've good - albeit shorter in the picture but I reckon I can do something. I've even got the caretaker at the school I work to give me a bagful of leaves from the school grounds.
Great stuff!
Regards
Kezmo
"What is the good of having a nice house without a decent planet to put it on?" Henry David Thoreau
3 November 2009 8:11 PM
The wildlife spiral, is a brillinat idea. Thanks for posting the article WF.
Paul.
4 November 2009 7:58 AM
I’ll post a photo when I’ve made mine, perhaps others can do as well. It will be interesting to see how we’ve done with the materials we have. My logs are nothing like those in the photographs and I know Kezmo has some logs which are shorter than those mentioned.
4 November 2009 8:18 AM
Kezmo, I can let you have plenty of leaves, ( spent three hours clearing leaves after weekend wind and rain) but it is the' freshly' cut logs I will have to search for. I will have to keep my eyes open for anyone having tree work done and then plead for logs or buy them.
4 November 2009 8:22 PM
Brenda H: the' freshly' cut logs I will have to search for.
As I make mine I’ll take photographs and post them here (it was my fault the original ones were removed, I shouldn’t have been lazy and just scanned the article)