As autumn settles over Galway and the evenings become darker and cooler, our gardens begin to welcome a different cast of visitors. While summer may belong to bees and butterflies, October and November bring birds, mammals and other small creatures searching for food, water and a safe place to shelter.
Robins become particularly noticeable at this time of year. Their bright red breasts stand out against fading borders, and they are often surprisingly bold, appearing nearby as we rake leaves or turn the soil. Blackbirds are busy too, searching lawns and borders for worms and feasting on autumn berries. Thrushes, wrens, finches and tits may also become more frequent visitors as natural food supplies gradually diminish.
It is a good time to keep bird feeders topped up and to leave some berries and seed heads untouched. A shallow dish of clean water is equally valuable, particularly during colder spells.
Down at ground level, hedgehogs may still be on the move before settling down for hibernation. They need to build up their reserves, so an undisturbed corner, log pile or heap of leaves can provide welcome shelter. If you have a garden pond, frogs and newts may also be looking for protected places in which to spend the colder months.
Bats can still be spotted on milder autumn evenings, darting overhead as they take advantage of the remaining flying insects before winter. Moths, beetles, spiders and countless less conspicuous creatures are also part of this busy autumn world.
The best thing we can do for many of these visitors is surprisingly simple: resist the temptation to tidy everything away. Leave a few seed heads standing, allow leaves to gather beneath hedges and keep a quiet corner slightly wild.
An autumn garden may appear to be winding down, but look a little closer. Among the fallen leaves and fading plants, there is still an extraordinary amount of life.
