What lives in soil:
The soil in our gardens host an incredible range of creatures that help to cycle the soil nutrients and maintain its structure. Many of these are a great source of food for lots of other wildlife, such as various birds or bats.
They can include:
- Earthworms: great food for hedgehogs, birds, and even foxes. They burrow through soil, enforcing the structure and they help break down organic matter within soil.
- Slugs and snails: these contribute greatly to the overall ecosystem balance as they serve as protein-rich food for birds and other wildlife.
- Mice, shrews, and voles: these may burrow in soil, dispersing nutrients evenly throughout the mixture. They also work to aerate the soil and can also move seeds around.
- Insects, spiders, and mites: these contribute to nutrient cycling and decomposition, some also feed on other soil organisms, creating a generally good ecosystem balance.
