There is often great concern expressed about the damage ivy can do to trees, but contrary to popular belief, the plant is not parasitic. Ivy has its own root system which obtains nutrients directly from the soil; the tiny, root-like structures on its stems merely enable it to cling to its support without causing damage to the tree itself. At times the plant does appear to overwhelm its host, but this is thought to occur only when the tree is itself old or suffering from disease. Only in very rare circumstances does ivy cause real problems to a healthy tree. After all, trees and ivy have been co-existing for millennia, and it would not benefit either if the relationship resulted in the death of one partner.
Ivy is a native evergreen climber which has enormous benefits for wildlife, especially during the cold winter months when it provides natural shelter for a wide array of mammals, birds and invertebrates, and also during autumn when it represents an important food source for many species. The abundant, astringently perfumed flowers should be at their peak during autumn months when little else is blooming. They are an absolute magnet for insect life of all kinds. If you stand by a good clump of ivy on a bright autumn day, you will find the plant literally buzzing with life. There will be late bees (maybe even ivy bees – a relative newcomer to these isles), wasps, flies, hoverflies, beetles and beautiful butterflies such as the red admiral and comma that simply cannot resist supping the nectar on offer.
Treat yourself, your family, friends or your grandchildren to a bit of wildlife spotting and see how many creatures you can find using ivy as a life-sustaining feature in your own local green space. Churchyards are excellent places to observe this phenomenon, and I vividly remember seeing over 100 assorted butterflies festooning a single ivy draped gravestone in Gt Yarmouth Cemetery one October afternoon. What a sight that was!
Later in the winter the ripened berries provide essential sustenance for many bird species, especially thrushes, at a time of year when other natural food supplies have been exhausted. These berries persist well into the New Year, providing a reliable food source until spring brings welcome relief. I wrote an article about watching Mistle thrushes guarding their particular oak tree which you can read about in my book, Naturally Connected (click the link in the sidebar, or click here for more info). Alternatively, you can message me direct in the comments section below.
When you’re tidying up your garden this autumn in advance of the approaching chill of winter, please think twice before getting rid of your ivy. Take a closer look at the huge numbers of small insects feeding on its flowers; where else would they find such abundant nectar now summer has waned? Don’t forget that brimstone butterflies will be hibernating somewhere amongst the water repelling foliage, as will the pupa of next year’s holly blue butterflies; if the ivy disappears, will they be around to brighten your garden next spring? With the lengthening nights getting ever colder, birds need safe roost sites; if the ivy goes where will your local Wrens, Robins and Blackbirds find sanctuary?
There will also be much temptation this month to ‘tidy up’ other areas of the garden ready for winter’s assault, but there’s really no need to overdo it. I adopt the principle that less is more as far as autumnal garden maintenance is concerned. Certainly, leaving things to look after themselves during winter does pay dividends for local wildlife. And to achieve this you simply do nothing! Don’t remove seed heads from plants until spring – they will provide much needed nourishment for finches and sparrows and shelter for spiders and other small creatures. Don’t prune all the dead wood from your trees and shrubs – leave some as a haven for invertebrates which will attract woodpeckers, whilst holes and crevasses will provide roosting sites for bats and birds. Don’t clear out leaf litter from the bottom of hedges – this is such an important refuge for all kinds of creatures including wood mice, hedgehogs, frogs, newts and the overwintering pupa of many species of moth. It’s a relatively simple task to tidy up all of this come spring when the seed heads will have been used as a life sustaining larder, and hollow stems as a safe retreat.
Of course, our gardens need to be managed, but spare a thought for wild creatures that share them with us, and don’t forget to leave plenty of that ivy!