National Insect Week

There are three main reasons why you should try and attract insects to your garden: they make fantastic pollinators (not just bees), they serve as chick food, and some are beneficial predators.

Their role as pollinators is important because plants will normally have a higher yield if insects help out with pollination. Although bees tend to be the best pollinators around, many other insects such as butterflies, moths, beetles and flies also have positive roles to play.

Insects' role as beneficial predators means that they can sometimes help get rid of pests in your gardens. For example rose growers and tomato growers will know that greenfly can sometimes be a pain. However ladybirds love to eat these pests so by encouraging them into your garden, you'll have a natural predator and help improve the health of your plants without the need for pesticides.

Chicks need a rich source of protein if they are to grow quickly and insects just happen to be the perfect protein-rich food. Different birds will like different insects so it is wise to try and attract as many different insects into your garden as possible.

So how do you attract insects into your garden? The easiest thing to do is to have plenty of plants. It is important to try and vary what you have in your garden - so have some plants which flower early, and some which flower late. This means there is a good mix of food for the insects and different plants will attract different insects so a wider range of plants should net you a wider range of insects.

Insect boxes will also help attract insects to your garden as it gives them a nice home to stay in, particularly over winter. Don't be too tidy with your garden either - if you can leave a small patch of longer grass with logs and sticks in it, insects will appreciate it.

Want to know more?

• Visit the National Insect Week website which is full of fantastic insect facts and fun
• Buy insect boxes online
• Buy flower seeds online