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April Element - Rock Piles

Sam Francis

Element number four of the twelve elements to make your garden a wildlife wonderland will rock your world… It’s rock piles! There are few features in your garden that are millions of years old and these habitats are a great way to add cool wildlife to your garden.

With April fast approaching, nature is already treating us to its exquisite sights and sounds—from the buzz of bees to the songs of nesting birds, we begin to feel the warmer days, and a cool, calming breeze.  And with that, it’s time to highlight Element #4, Rock Piles:

Rock piles provide cool, shaded, and often naturally damper conditions, making them an essential safe haven for many creatures. By adding one to your garden, you can support a variety of wildlife, including frogs, grass snakes, slow worms, newts, woodlice, and worms—all of which benefit from the shelter and protection that rock piles offer.

Slow worm on rock pile

Sam Francis

 

Where to Place Your Rock Pile

For the best results, place your rock pile in a quiet, lesser disturbed area and ideally near another habitat—such as a pond, hedge, or log pile. This allows safer movement between habitats and increases the chances of it being well-used.

How to Build a Rock Pile

You can keep it simple by stacking rocks together (larger ones at the base) to create corridors and crevices for wildlife to use. Alternatively, you can be more creative by:

• Building a rockery or raised bed that features crevices but also retains soil.

• Designing a sculptural feature that blends function with aesthetics.

 

The key is to ensure access and safety for wildlife. Once built, it’s best not to disturb the pile, so choosing the right location from the start is crucial.

By adding a rock pile, you’re providing a vital microhabitat that supports biodiversity—one small change that makes a big difference for nature!

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