Want to make your space wildlife friendly? Here are a few simple tricks, tips, and hacks to encourage critters into your garden!
1 Plant native
Introduce trees, shrubs, and flowers that you see in your local countryside. Maybe hawthorn in your hedges, or heathers in the border? If it grows near your home, it will probably do well in your garden too.
If you do go for a hedge, don’t cut in nesting season (01 March – 31 August)
2 Long grass
Low mow (or no mow) areas make great hiding places and shelter for small mammals and insects, can you leave a small area to grow longer?
If you want to up your grass game, 80:20 grass to wildflower mixes are available, you can even match your local meadows
3 Bug hotels
From shop-bought hotels to piles of sticks, leaves, and cuttings – a dedicated pile of material with different sized gaps can be tucked into the back of a border for invertebrates to enjoy. It’s a fun project for children and big kids alike. This log wall does double duty – habitat and a functional wall
4 Ponds
From bird bath to watering hole, a simple pond attracts a wide range of wildlife. Anything will do if space is tight – a sunken trough or bucket works just fine. Add a plank or gravel beach for animals to get out. Check out the RHS guide for more details
5 Flowers
Try to include flowers with a variety of flower shapes, and have as long a flowering season as possible. By planting single flowers (like this dahlia), insects can easily access nectar.
6 Ivy
Good old Hedera helix – a stalwart of the British countryside and a super source of late season nectar. It provides habitats, clothes boring old fences, and looks glossy and verdant 365 days a year. Don’t believe me? Read this!
wildplacesgardens.co.uk 