Invite wildlife into your garden

Effort:

Impact:

Cost:

Savings:

Restoring nature will help people and wildlife cope better with the impacts of climate change, through supporting natural processes such as carbon, water and nutrient cycling, and pollination. Whether you have a sprawling garden or a small balcony, there are steps you can take to make it a haven for local wildlife.

Impact: Encouraging wildlife in your garden helps in pollination, pest control, and soil health. Gardens that support wildlife also act as carbon sinks, absorbing more CO2 from the atmosphere. Natural gardens also reduce the need for chemical pesticides and fertilisers, further reducing your carbon footprint. They also help absorb heavy rainfall, reducing local flooding, and help cool urban environments in hot weather.

Effort: It might involve making some changes to your garden layout but involves less ongoing maintenance.

Costs and savings: While there might be some initial costs involved in buying plants or setting up bird feeders, the long-term benefits of a self-sustaining, wildlife-friendly garden can lead to savings in terms of reduced need for pesticides, fertilisers, and mowing.

Time each month: Depending on the changes you implement, you might spend an extra 1-2 hours a month maintaining a wildlife-friendly garden.

Next steps

Plant Thoughtfully: Introduce native trees, pollinator-friendly shrubs, and flowers to your garden. 
Nurture Habitats: Dedicate areas for wildflowers and wild grasses.  Consider adding a pond or nurturing existing water features. Find out more from the Freshwater Habitats Trust.
Shelter Wildlife: Provide nesting boxes for birds or bats on trees or buildings; check out the RSPB’s advice on providing bird boxes for different bird species.
Eco-friendly Gardening: Opt for peat-free compost products or make your own compost from garden waste and avoid pesticides. 
Accessibility: Ensure there's space under your fence, allowing hedgehogs and frogs to pop by. See the Hedgehog Street website to find out lots more about how to help hedgehogs in your garden.
Natural Refuges: Create a pile of small branches, twigs, and leaves in a garden corner. This not only supports butterflies, bees, and bugs but also provides a cosy spot for hedgehogs.
Keep, or introduce, natural permeable surfaces in your garden: Artificial turf or hard surfaces increase rainwater run-off which can overload the drainage system during heavy rainfall, and artificial turf can introduce harmful micro-plastics into the environment. Consider creating a rain garden, see this information from the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust to learn more.
Feeding Birds: Plant hedges, trees and flowers which provide natural food sources for birds such as rowan and cherry trees, and teasel and sunflowers. Use vertical hanging feeders rather than a traditional bird table to reduce the risk of spreading diseases which affect garden birds. Make sure your feeders are cleaned regularly. Don’t forget to provide a water source for your garden birds as well. For more information visit the RSPB’s website.
Get a water butt: Rainwater is better for plants as it contains no chemicals used to treat the mains supply. Using rainwater to water your garden also reduces demand on our treated water systems.