Wildlife friendly gardening

Gardens are life-savers for wildlife: There are around 15 million gardens in the UK – that’s about 270,000 Wembley stadiums. What you do in your garden makes a difference!

Top 10 wildlife magnets

1. Water

   This is essential for all creatures. Even a simple bird bath is a top attraction, but a pond is best of all. It will attract frogs, toads, perhaps newts, and a host of fascinating insects. Birds come to bathe and drink too. Find out more
   

2. 

   Nectar rich flowers

   Grow nectar-rich flowers (native and non-native) to feed butterflies, moths, bees and other insects. Find out more on our Borders with year round appeal pages.
   

3. Green boundaries

   Hedges link other habitats together and provide vital shelter and nest sites. Many hedge plants give food for birds and mammals too. Clothe vertical surfaces with climbing plants.

   

   Select those such as honeysuckle, ivy and clematis which provide food for moths and butterflies as well as nest sites for birds. Find out more
   

4. Birds

   Feed birds all year round but especially in winter. Plant berry-bearing trees and shrubs for natural food, and make a feeding station with a range of foods to attract different birds. Find out more
   

5. Trees

   Trees provide a vertical layer for all kinds of wildlife activity, particularly for birds: to nest in, feed on and as song posts.

   

   Visit our Trees for small gardens pages for more ideas.
   

6. Small space gardening
   

   Colourful containers can be filled with nectar and pollen-rich flowers for blooms through the seasons. Find out more on our small space gardening pages.
   

7. Homes for wildlife

   Make homes for wildlife. With habitats dwindling fast, creatures need all the help you can give. Put up boxes for bats as well as birds, install a hedgehog home, and make insect hotels. Find out more
   

   

8. Living Lawns

   Make your lawn come alive with wildlife. Let some corners grow long or even spread wild flower seeds to make a meadow! Find out more on our Living lawns pages.
   

9. Go chemical-free

   Many pest, disease and weed-killers are indiscriminate, killing friend and foe alike. Bugs are food for other creatures, and given a chance the good guys will keep on top of the pests, saving you the hassle and expense. Find out more on our Go chemical-free pages.
   

10. Compost

    Recycle garden waste to benefit your plants, garden wildlife - and your wallet. Compost containers make cosy habitats for all sorts of insects and amphibians. Find out more
    

For more tips

• Visit DWT's Wildlife Gardening Blog
• Download the Wildife Gardening leaflet
• Visit DWT's Cricklepit Mill wildlife garden in Exeter
  
• There is a host of other wildlife gardening tips on the Big Wildlife Garden website