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Kate Humble: May
May is a month of wildlife spectacles. New fledglings will be learning to fend for themselves. You might see baby hedgehogs foraging for food or the comic antics of fox cubs.
Its also a month to relish the return of our summer visitors.
Swallows, house martins and swifts will be back and there is no nicer way to while an evening watching them swoop and dive for insects.
May is a busy and rewarding time for gardeners. Backache from weeding is rewarded by borders and tubs full of colour and perfume.
Remember too that garden plants provide vital food and habitat for favourites like ladybirds, bees and butterflies.
You've probably heard that honey bees and bumble bees are having a very difficult time because of loss of habitat and lack of food. So however small your garden, terrace or window sill, fill it with flowering plants to help bees and numerous other species.
The RSPB receives lots of calls at this time of year from concerned gardeners that have spotted baby birds which appear to have fallen out of their nest and look confused and vulnerable.
The best thing you can do is leave them alone. It may seem harsh but it's not. You may not be able to see them, but adult birds will almost certainly be close by keeping an eye on them. Healthy baby birds are rarely abandoned so please don't be tempted to pick up any fledglings.
May is a particularly busy month for me as I'll be getting ready for Springwatch at the end of the month.
The first live programme is on May 25th and I'll be in Norfolk with Chris Packham who is presenting it with me this year.
We've got some wonderful things for you to look forward to, but much of what happens is dictated by the wildlife so even we don't know what's in store yet!
I can promise you Simon King who will be looking at some of the spectacular wildlife in Wales, we'll have badgers as you've never seen them before and of course plenty of ideas on how you can make the most of Britain's wonderful wildlife.
Have fun out there! Kate
For information on wildlife gardening and nature reserves visit www.rspb.org.uk.
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Weather for Ilkeston
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: East
