Climbers that are beneficial for wildlife in your garden.

It can take a while until your climbers are mature enough to support wildlife. Once climbers start flowering they are attractive to bees. As the growth thickens up they are attractive to birds for nesting & roosting.

• Clematis/Clematis armandii – Once they are established they provide shelter & a nesting site for birds. The flowers provide nectar & pollen for bees & nectar is loved by long-tongued moths. Varieties that produce fluffy seed heads after flowering in autumn - Clematis tangutica – if these seed heads are left on until spring they can be used as nesting materials by birds. They also are an attractive feature in your garden through autumn & winter. Clematis armandii, Montana & tangutica grow quickly.

• Climbing/rambling roses –The most valuable varieties for wildlife are the single & open flowered roses provide cover, shelter & nesting sites for birds & shelter for a variety of insects when they are mature. These flowers also provide nectar & pollen for pollinators. The hips provide food for birds. The leaves of Rosa ‘Frances E, Lester’ are used by leaf cutter bees to line their nests.

• Hedera helix (Ivy) – Shelter for nesting birds & hibernating insects. Flowers provide nectar & pollen, birds feast on the berries & caterpillars of the Holly Blue butterfly eat the leaves. Quitea quick growing plant.

• Hydrangea petiolaris (Climbing Hydrangea) – Provides perching spots & shelter for nesting birds & insects. When grown on a south-facing wall the flowers are a magnet for pollinators, hoverflies & other insects.

• Humulus lupulus – A deciduous climber that provides shelter for insects & leaves are eaten by caterpillars of the Comma butterfly.

• Lonicera (Honeysuckle)- A great plant for wildlife providing perching space & shelter for nesting birds, nectar & pollen for a variety of insects including moths, berries for birds & leaves for caterpillars. Grows quite quickly.

• Passiflora (Passion Flower) – Provides general shelter for insects & nectar for some pollinators.

• Pyracantha – Produce two seasons of food for wildlife plus shelter.

• Trachelospermum jasminoides (Star Jasmine) – Flowers attractive to pollinators & plants provide shelter for birds. A relatively quick grower.