The suburban back garden of the house where John Lennon grew up will today have its first ever wildlife survey. Once complete the survey will reveal what wildlife can be found in the garden and the steps needed to allow it to thrive.
Like countless back gardens across the UK, this is a potential haven for everything from song birds to beetles. Now cared for by the National Trust, the house known as ‘Mendips’, has an L-shaped garden which is around 100 foot long. It’s dominated by an expanse of lawn but has borders with shrubs, roses, rhododendron and laurels. There are some trees at the back of the garden and also a fruit tree.
To help the Trust find out what is hiding in this garden a moth trap will be set up over night, pitfalls will be created to trap bugs and beasties and a butterfly net will be used. Records will also be taken of any birds found in the garden during the survey.
The Trust has been carrying out wildlife surveys at its properties since 1979 and they play an important part in determining how the Trust manages properties for the benefit of wildlife.
Peter Brash, an ecologist with the National Trust, who will be carrying out the survey said,
'Gardens are really important habitats for wildlife and can be home to a whole host of different species that lurk behind sheds and in the borders. The back garden at Mendips has been fairly undisturbed for years so fingers crossed that we’ll find some interesting wildlife…and no doubt a few species of beetle.'
Mendips is located in the Woolton area of Liverpool with plenty of green spaces nearby including the famous Strawberry fields and a large cemetery which backs on to woodland.
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