Wildlife Gardening
Gardens are extremely important for wildlife, not only can they provide food and shelter for a huge range of plants and animals, but they can form a natural "bridge" between built up and open areas which allow wildlife to move between them relatively easily. Gardens can also provide particular habitats that may be missing in your local area such as ponds and suitable hibernation or nesting sites.
The loss of natural habitat in the wider countryside due to factors such as development, has led to the fragmentation of suitable areas for wildlife to live, feed and breed in. Urban areas and gardens have therefore become a much needed resource for wildlife, and represent the mosaic of habitats required by different species.
In some cases, species are being forced into urban areas and gardens as a secondary habitat due to loss of natural sites. Many plant and animal species are extremely adaptable and are able to survive and even thrive in an urban environment.
There are lots of simple things that you can do to encourage wildlife to your garden, including:
- Create a wildflower meadow to provide butterflies and moths with nectar sources
- Dig a pond
- Build a rockery or log pile with spaces for frogs, newts and beetles to shelter in
- Put up a bird feeder or nest box
- Start a compost heap
- Use wildlife-friendly methods to control garden pests
If you have any questions regarding gardening for wildlife, or would like some further information and advice, why not get in touch with WildLine the Trust's free wildlife information service, or download one of our useful factsheets (see right). You can also submit your garden to the Trust's Wildlife Gardening Award Scheme.
If you have frogs in your pond, slow-worms in your compost heap, or hedgehogs in your shed, please let us know about it by filling submitting your wildlife records using our online form.
Wild about Gardens is a joint project between the Wildlife Trusts and the Royal Horticultural Society, bringing together the worlds of gardening and nature conservation for the benefit of both people and wildlife. Visit the website to join the wildlife community for the latest news, blogs, upcoming events and surveys.
Wildlife Gardening for Everyone was published in 2005 and includes expert advice from professional RHS gardeners and Wildlife Trust panelists. Copies are available form our online shop.
