We get the common insects in our garden just like anyone else, but this year - perhaps because of the weather - the garden (and house but I don't mind that so much) seemed to be devoid of most insect life.

It was a bad year for insects, especially bees and wasps as we all know, but what can you do in a garden to help out the insects? I'm not just talking about bees either, but all kinds of species.

The best advice I can give is to allow a part of your garden to become a bit overgrown and wild (or sow with wild flowers). And don't be so keen on cutting everything back once winter comes. Unfortunately, our liking of manicured gardens does nothing for insect populations. Also, pile up some logs in a quiet corner to rot down to create a perfect insect habitat (this is something that we do a lot of when managing woodland).

An obvious but important tip is don't use any fertilizers or products to help your garden grow, many of these are not good for insects or wildlife in general!

No using pesticides!

Kingfisher

I think insects are going to need all the help we can give them next year. If the weather is going to be as unpredictable as the previous year - brilliant sunshine in March followed by rain all summer - then all the wildlife is going to struggle again but especially insects and flowering plants.

I remember a while back we had a discussion about bee boxes, has anyone had any results with them?

I found a millipede in the bath this morning. Good job that I like them but I wasn't sharing the soap!!! I put 'him' outside & felt aweful about it because it was cold , but thought there can't be much food in the house particularly in the bathroom for 'him' so I found him a nice pot with dead fern fronds & moss in it. Incidentally they are always 'him' to me & always called 'Milly'.

They feed on mainly decaying plants I believe, so I would imagine you're right, there wouldn't have been much food in the house!

And as for putting it outside, I wouldn't worry about it, they are well suited to living outdoors and I wouldn't want to share my house with it either.

Do 'millies' bite Bill?

Millipedes have been known to bite, but they won't hurt you and you probably won't even feel it. Centipedes are the more vicious of the two and I definitely wouldn't want to share a bathroom with one!

A few tips for making your garden insect friendly, allow a bit of your grass into a small meadow. Also set aside a wild patch of ground where native plants like nettles can grow.

My bug box has been stuffed full of leaf cutter bees for two years running - its placed on a sunny southern wall. You can also make them very easily!

Is it as simple as it sounds, putting a cardboard box filled with leaves? Please explain!