Everyone can be a wildlife gardener. Whether you are an expert with a large garden or simply enjoy growing plants in a pot, whether you have one tub or an allotment, there is a great deal you can do to encourage wildlife to visit.
The UK’s 15 million gardens already provide very important homes for wildlife. But they could be more valuable still if more of us gardened with wildlife in mind. A large number of creatures - the common frog, song thrush, hedgehog and smooth newt among them - that are declining in the countryside can do very well in domestic gardens if we provide the right conditions for them: and this is not difficult to do.
There are some very easy ways to attract more wildlife into your garden and, whether you want to know how to create a living roof for your shed or simply to have more wildflowers, you should find here all the information you need.
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- Natural England were delighted to sponsor the June 2008 Wildlife Gardening Conference, organised by the Forum for Gardening with Wildlife in Mind and the London Wildlife Trust.
Stephen Moss from the BBC Natural History Unit opened the event with a keynote speech on children and the natural environment. There were also presentations and practical advice from wildlife garden experts Dr Ken Thompson and Chris Baines, plus an opportunity to have a sneak preview of Natural England’s update Gardening With Wildlife in Mind on-line programme.
Top tips – and leaflets
Wildlife matters to gardens, and gardens matter to wildlife. You can help by doing just a few easy things in your garden or surrounding green space. Follow our Top tips for wildlife gardening and you will find that wildlife gardening is not only fun but also good for you and less work!
Natural England has also produced a range of leaflets giving advice on wildlife friendly gardening.
Forum for Gardening with Wildlife in Mind
The Forum for Gardening with Wildlife in Mind draws public attention to the importance of gardening for wildlife.
Access to Nature grants
Access to Nature is a £25 million grant scheme to encourage people from all backgrounds to understand, access and enjoy our natural environment. If you are involved with a wildlife gardening project organised by, for example, a community group, charity, school, college, local authority or church group, your project may be eligible for funding.