Ivy Helps Wildlife in Your Garden

English Ivy is called Hedera Helix and it is a great help to wildlife in your garden. It is an evergreen, versatile and long lived plant that is easy to cultivate. The hand shaped leaves become more rounded as the Ivy matures and bursts into white flower.

Ivy and Wildlife

• If grown as ground cover Ivy provides a snug area under its leaves in winter to help birds and woodland creatures to forage during cold spells.
• Grown up a wall or tree Ivy provides nesting and hibernation sites for birds, insects and butterflies. It is also a place to hide or roost.
• Flowers provide pollen and nectar but the variegated forms are slower to flower.
• After the flowers the Ivy produces berries as food for wildlife through winter and seeds for procreation.