There is so much you can do in your garden to help wildlife that it is difficult to know where to start. Here are some basics on which you can build, together with links to some sites which offer help.
A Few Things to think about…
- Insect friendly Flowers throughout the year:
- Plantlife provide a useful tool to choose wildflowers by season and location .
- Night scented flowers attract insects which in turn attract birds and bats. The wildlife Trusts have information on best plants for attracting moths and bats.
- Choose plants that have berries – maybe think of a crab apple rather than a flowering cherry? The RSPB have a list of some shrubs to choose from.
- Say No to Pesticides: The Wildlife trust are a good resource for gardening without harmful chemicals
- Go Peat Free : We really don’t need peat these days. If the RHS can be peat free then so can we.
- Mow less often and cut higher:
- Many little creatures use the grass to hide, nest or scurry through; trimming at a higher level can help them. Wild about Gardens provides more information in this document
- Join in No Mow May, to give some plants time to flower, attract insects and be pollinated.
- No Pond too small: There are so many websites dedicated to creating wildlife ponds including all the the organisations with links on this page. Take your pick – Just remember to provide a way out for any wild visitor!
- Reduce artificial lighting: for bats and invertebrates alike. The bat conservation trust provides guidance and other links.
- Provide wildlife corridors between your neighbours: Access between gardens and hedges are needed for hedgehogs. Check out Hedgehog Street
- Get some advice : Either from a professional or from friends; you can contact us if you have a specific question and we can try to answer it, or HIWWT do a free consultation in your garden by volunteers.
What’s Visiting your Garden?
If you live locally and would like to find out what wildlife is visiting your garden, ask if you can borrow our Trail Cam.
We would welcome anyone who is passionate about local wildlife gardening and would like to help with any of the aims on our Biodiversity Action Plan: Support and Enhance Wildlife Gardening. Please contact us .