Ivy

Walking along a local farm track at the weekend I was marvelling at the wonderful dark green foliage of the Ivy, growing thickly up the trunks of the large, healthy trees lining the path. I was horrified to notice the lower stems of all the Ivy had been recently cut, meaning the Ivy will soon die off. Sadly Ivy is often killed and removed for fear of it damaging walls or causing harm to the trees it is climbing up. Research has shown this is not the case.

In fact, Ivy (Hedera helix), has so many benefits for wildlife it is a native plant we should all be encouraging in our gardens.

When mature Ivy flowers, from September to November, it is the most important and abundant source of nectar and pollen for many flower visiting insects. Ivy doesn’t have showy or perhaps even noticeable flowers as they are green and without petals.  On a sunny autumn day though a mature Ivy plant in flower can be covered in a wide range of pollinators feasting on its nectar. Butterflies such as Peacocks and Red admirals stocking up on supplies before finding a sheltered nook to hibernate or flying south to breed. The last of the seasons bumblebees and wasps in search of sugar as their colonies die off for the winter. Honeybees still busy foraging to maintain their honey supply for winter. Several Hoverfly species still in flight and my favourite, the rather lovely Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae).

Ivy bee on an Ivy flower

 The Ivy Bee is a solitary bee whose main source of pollen and nectar is Ivy. Ivy bees become active in early September to coincide with Ivy flowering. Each female makes a nest in loose soil on sunny ground near to Ivy. First recorded in the UK in 2001, the Ivy bee is now commonly seen in Sussex.

It’s not only pollinators that love ivy. In Britain Ivy is a foodplant for at least 77 species of insects (Metcalfe 2005). Ivy also provides highly nutritious black winter berries for birds and dense shelter for mammals, birds and many other invertebrates including hibernating butterflies.

A Comma Butterfly and a Hoverfly on an Ivy flower

A great way to support wildlife in our gardens is to encourage the growth of Ivy. Avoid cutting Ivy down or back, especially before it flowers in Autumn. Ivy grows in sun and shade and makes excellent ground cover for shady corners where nothing else wants to grow. Here Gardeners World details how to grow and care for Ivy.

For more ideas on native plants to for your garden to support pollinators visit chalkhillrewilding.co.uk