Native Natter
February 2026
Winter work across the park
February has been a busy month for our Estates team, which may come as a surprise to those who prefer to hibernate through winter.
While many gardens are “put to bed” and left alone during the colder months, this is actually one of the best times of year for us to get busy planting trees and hedges.
The weather has been wet, to say the least. Although it is not always the most pleasant weather to work outdoors in, it has made planting much easier than in 2025, when an early dry spell left the ground rather hard for digging.
In fact, we have been very happy to see all the water falling from the sky. It is great news for our plants, completing the perfect growth trifecta of moisture, rising temperatures and increasing daylight hours. Exactly what they need to thrive and grow.
Planting for wildlife
The majority of our hedge planting is a mix of native species, including Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Field Maple, Dog Rose and Dogwood.
We source these from a local supplier in Langham, less than 10 miles away from the park. These species are perfectly adapted to grow in our climate and bring a wealth of benefits for local wildlife, including food and nesting opportunities for birds, as well as shelter and cover for small mammals.
Wonderful willow
We also use this time of year to plant lots of different types of willow.
Willow is fantastic for our native species, providing early nectar and pollen for bees, as well as acting as a larval food plant for moths and butterflies such as the Purple Emperor.
It is one of those amazing plants that grows extremely quickly and easily from cuttings. Just by pushing a stem into the ground, within a year you could have a tree more than 6ft high.
For the best results, select a straight stem from last year’s growth, around 30cm in length. The stem should be roughly the thickness of a pencil and pushed about 15cm into the ground. Be warned though, they do grow quickly.
Natural screening for our tiger enclosure
This winter, we have installed a small plantation of Osier, Salix viminalis, adjacent to our tiger enclosure.
This will provide natural screening for Kalinka, while also creating future forage for some of our other animals, with a percentage harvested each year.
Osier is a very fast-growing willow, traditionally grown for basketry. It provides the perfect natural backdrop for our reserves, helping our landscape blend seamlessly with our wider mission to improve the park for biodiversity and conservation.
Jimmy’s Farm & Wildlife Park News
