3 minutes | Monday, 23 February 2026
Dig It! with Hester Macdonald explores helping wildlife in winter gardens. Compost heaps, leaf piles, and hollow perennial stems provide safe shelters for toads, hedgehogs, and solitary bees - avoid clearing them too early.
Bare-root shrubs with winter flowers, like Viburnums, Sarcococca, or Daphnes, give nectar to waking bees.
Birds benefit from reliable food and water; apples, berries, and crabapples are perfect.
Hester is creating a nectar bar at the Swiss Gardening School.