Ivy is beneficial to wildlife.
Whilst ivy is often considered unpopular and damaging to trees, it is important for insects and other animals.
Ivy is an essential food source for insects and birds during the autumn and winter, when there may be little other food available to them.
The high fat content of the berries can also be a nutritious food source for birds, such as woodpigeons, blackbirds and thrushes.
It can also provide shelter for bats, birds, insects and small mammals.
The nectar and pollen of ivy is important to many insects such as hoverflies, bees and common wasps. They like to forage on the ivy’s nectar before they go into hibernation.
It is also an important plant food for many butterflies and moth larvae.
So before you chop down your ivy, think of all the good it is doing as well.
Learn more about Climbing Plants with our ebook.
