Wildlife in your garden

Ideas for a wildlife garden  /  Attracting birds to your wildlife garden  /  Shelter for birds in your wildlife garden  /  Food sources for your wildlife  /  Ponds, hedges, flowers and grass  /  Planting trees to attract birds and mammals  /  Safe distances for planting trees in gardens

---

Ideas for a wildlife garden 

Creating a wildlife garden allows you to be a part of your surrounding environment. Gardens are often completely cut off from the natural landscape around them and aren't welcoming to birds and other wildlife. Adding a few well placed and carefully chosen shrubs or trees can make all the difference when trying to attract birds to your garden.

Map out and observe your surroundings to see what natural habitats are close by. Are there any ponds, rivers, or streams? Are parks, golf courses or nature reserves nearby? Remember, your garden is part of the bigger picture. Knowing what the local ecosystems are will help you to plan your garden. Encouraging butterflies, birds and other wildlife into the garden is a joy in its own right and goes a long way to protect the survival of many creatures within our environment.

Wildlife gardening brings together a collection of natural and cultivated plants such as teasel, ox-eye daisies and buddleia that benefit wildlife. Everything has its place. For example, shrubs and trees provide sites for birds, nectar from flowers feeds insects, food from berries and other fruits support birds and small animals.

Pyracantha, cotoneaster and holly provide autumn and winter berries. Herbaceous plants such as sedums, michaelmas daisies and scabious provide nectar to insects and give colour in the garden. Plants such as teasels, sunflowers and grasses produce seed for food, whilst oak, ash and pine have lush fruits for small animals. In fact most plants have something to attract and sustain a wildlife population.

---

Page last updated Mar 16, 2010 2:27 PM