Jackdaws spotted on patrol
Ham House’s kitchen garden was badly damaged during the first life cycle of the caterpillars in the spring, but with the help of around 10 jackdaws regularly patrolling the hedges, the box has partially rejuvenated.
Rosie Fyles, Head Gardener at the National Trust’s Ham House, said: “We first noticed jackdaws plucking caterpillars from the box hedges in May, which was fantastic to see, but I thought it might be a one-off.
“Box hedging is an iconic part of the garden at Ham, and with so much of it, the threat of damage from the caterpillar was huge.
“So we were thrilled when the birds returned in August for the next lifecycle. We had wondered if the caterpillars would be unpleasant or even poisonous to native birds – but the jackdaws have clearly developed a taste for them.
“It’s early days, but it’s a really encouraging sign that there may be a homegrown solution yet.”
Gardeners at the 17th-century Ham estate are now exploring ways to attract more jackdaws, and other birds, including changing the way they prune the hedges.
Rosie continued: “We’ve noticed the jackdaws are most effective on the hedges which have been partially stripped of leaves by the caterpillars and so contain bigger holes – which makes the insects easier to spot.
“We’re now looking at ways to prune the hedges in a more open style, that allows increased air flow and gives the birds easier access to the caterpillars.
“Nature is the heart of everything we do at Ham, and sometimes that means we have to be pragmatic where we want to be perfectionist.”