A perfect excuse to let the garden grow wild

Lazy gardeners are needed to help save Britain's endangered wildlife. As winter bites, they are being urged to leave dead wood and leaves, let the lawn grow and ignore slugs and snails. All these moves will help create havens and food for threatened birds and insects whose homes in the wild are disappearing.

The measures are part of Wild About Gardens, a project set up by the Royal Horticultural Society with the Wildlife Trust. Other ideas outlined by wildlife experts include building a log pile and leaving dead wood and tree stumps, which are good for stag beetles. Bumblebees can be encouraged with pollen and nectar plants like red clover, poppies, foxgloves, catmint, and grass tussocks. Ponds are also needed for great crested newts.

Carefully manicured gardens or scruffy backyards can all help, said Simon Thornton-Wood, of the RHS. 'The desire to help is there,' he added.
The Met Office said very cold temperatures would continue for some days. For more information on how to help, see