Customer Reviews:
 Interesting and useful, but not enough pictures! February 5, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
This book is well-written, informative and useful. However, I think it would have been greatly improved if the lists of natives plants had been accompanied by photos, which would make the selection of plants much easier for less experienced gardeners.
 Exactly what I was looking for May 17, 2007
8 out of 8 found this review helpful
After the recent (delightful) arrival of roe deer in my garden I bought this book yesterday and read it straight through - it has exactly the right kind of information on gardening for wildlife: why exactly you should plant native plants rather than exotics. Which butterflies and birds feed on which plants. How to propagate wildflowers. How to arrange shrubs and trees to provide better shelter and animal cover. It's Chris Baines's attitude which is the most refreshing - got big bites out of your foliage? Good, he says, it shows you're providing food for xy and z insects, which are food for birds, which are food for larger birds, foxes and so on. I am lucky enough to have a very large country garden, but this book is suitable even if all you have is a city balcony. I am hoping to put his ideas on different kinds of meadow planting, ponds and wetland planting into effect by next summer. A really good read.
Excellent book May 25, 2005
15 out of 19 found this review helpful
This is the book I use all the time for my work as a wildlife garden designer. I also keep stocks of this book to sell to clients, so they can get the most out of their wildlife gardens, whether we (www.wildlifeservices.co.uk) build them or not.
An essential read for wildlife enthusiasts April 29, 2005
11 out of 13 found this review helpful
I can only give this book 5 stars as it is a book that is consistantly recommended where wildlife gardening is concerned. Not to say that it couldn't be improved, but it is a very enjoyable read. It strikes a good balance between narrative and practicle tips (mostly in the form of tables) explaining the ways in which you can attract wildlife to your garden. For example in one table it shows you how many species a particular tree attracts. Now if your expecting the book to name all 300+ species oak (quercus robur) attracts then your in for a dissapointment. Although it would be a vast undertaking if someone were to do that complete with pictures of the species then that would appeal to my passion for details in areas concerning wildlife.It not only deals with trees but also our native flowers. Again not really naming all the species that they attract a lot of the time. But then again you don't really expect that from what is essentially a beginners guide. Anyone willing to take their knowlege of wildlife gardening to the next level I would seriously recommend this book.
Does everything it says on the cover... December 28, 2001
84 out of 85 found this review helpful
This an excellent and well written book. There are sadly only a few books on creating wildlife habitats in your garden and this is the best one I have read.Included are sections on each area of the garden, useful lists of the best plants to grow, ideas for new habitat areas to create, I have followed some of the ideas and have seen the amount of wildlife in our garden grow consdierably, last year we didnt have to spray for any harmful insects and this winter we have had a huge selection of birds in the garden that simply werent there last year.The only downside would be the lack of clarity on what exacly to feed and when for birds - other than that this is an excellent, well written and informative book - if you are at all interested in the subject BUY IT NOW!!
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