We are excited to be working in collaboration with Disney and Pixar on their latest film Hoppers, in cinemas March 6. And to celebrate here are our top tips and tricks to gardening and wildlife.
Top 3 tips to attract wildlife into your Garden
Plant Flowers That Wildlife Love
Flowers aren’t just pretty—they’re tasty treats for bees and butterflies! Choose bright, colourful plants like lavender, sunflowers, and wildflowers. These help pollinators find food and give your garden a cheerful pop of colour.
Top tip: Plant a mix of flowers that bloom at different times of the year, so wildlife always has something delicious to nibble on!
Add a Little Water Stop
Even the smallest creatures get thirsty. A birdbath, tiny pond, or even a shallow dish of water makes a brilliant wildlife café. Birds will paddle, bees will sip, and frogs may even pop by for a splash!
Remember: Change the water regularly to keep it clean and fresh.
Make Snug Homes for Visitors
Wildlife loves cosy hiding places. You can:
- Build a simple bug hotel
- Leave a log pile in a quiet corner
- Add a bird box to a tree or wall
- Keep a small patch of your garden a bit wild
These little shelters give creatures a safe place to sleep, hide, or raise their young.
Our top 3 plants for a Hopper’s inspired garden
Yellow Pansies: The Little Sunshine
Yellow pansies look like tiny, happy suns blooming in the garden. Their bright faces can make even a cloudy day feel cheerful.
What They Look Like
Yellow pansies have soft, velvety petals, sometimes with dark centres or smiley-looking markings. They grow low to the ground in neat, colourful clumps.
How to Plant Yellow Pansies
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Best time to plant: Autumn or early spring.
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Where to plant: In pots or flower beds with sun or part shade.
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Soil: They like damp but not soggy soil—like a wrung-out sponge.
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Spacing: Give each pant about 15–20 cm of space so they can spread their petals.
Yellow Primroses: The Early Spring Stars
Yellow primroses are some of the first plants to pop open as winter ends. Their bright colour is a favourite of early bees and anyone who’s tired of grey skies.
What They Look Like
Primroses have round, cheerful flowers that sit close to the ground. Yellow varieties look a bit like drops of sunshine resting on soft green leaves.
How to Plant Yellow Primroses
- Best time to plant: Autumn or early spring.
- Where to plant: Shady or partly shady spots—they don’t like hot sun.
- Soil: They love moist, rich soil. Adding compost makes them extra happy.
- Spacing: Plant about 20 cm apart.
- Watering: Keep the soil damp, especially in spring.
Fun Fact: Some primrose varieties glow almost neon yellow—perfect for brightening dark corners of the garden.
Forsythia: The golden shrub that welcomes Spring
Forsythia is the garden’s early wake‑up call, lighting up bare borders with sunshine‑yellow blooms. They are extremely helpful for bee’s and butterflies in early Spring.
What it looks like:
Forsythia is a deciduous flowering shrub and is extremely hardy and reliable for any gardener. It’s the perfect plant for borders, hedges and walls.
How to plant Forsythia
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- Best time to plant: Spring or autumn.
- Where to plant: Prefers full sun but can thrive in partial shade too.
Soil: well-drained soil.
- Spacing: allow for 60-90cm between plants.
- Watering: Water well for the first few weeks, then it mostly looks after itself.
Fun Fact: Forsythia flowers are edible — they have a mild, slightly bitter taste and are sometimes used in salads or as a garnish in East Asian cuisine.
