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Wildlife gardening © Tom Marshall

Wildlife gardening © Tom Marshall

Wildlife Gardening

Wildlife is everywhere

With 15 million gardens in the UK at a combined size of around 270,000ha, gardens are a vital and significant habitat, providing food, water, shelter, breeding and nesting areas and a way to travel from one place to another.

There are many very simple ways to welcome wildlife whatever the size of land you have in the town or the countryside.

Here are some factsheets to get you started

Insect home © David Kilbey
Wildlife Factsheet

Animal homes & shelter

Encourage wildlife to live in your garden
Pipistrelle bat by Amy Lewis ResourceSpaceID 61
Making space for nature

Bat havens

Provide roosting sites for bats
Coal Tit © Bob Coyle
Wildlife Factsheet

Birds in your garden

Provide food and shelter for birds
Bird nest box © Ross Hoddinott
Wildlife Factsheet

Bird nest box

Safe and healthy places for nesting birds
Peacock butterfly on buddleia © David Kilbey
Making space for nature

Pollinator Plants

The best flowers and plants for garden wildlife
Painted Lady butterfly
Wildlife Factsheet

Butterfly borders

Make your garden attractive to butterflies
Toad © Darin Smith
Wildlife Factsheet

Creating a pond

Ponds are an important part of garden wildlife
Urban wildflower meadow in Portsmouth
Making space for nature

Create a Wildflower Meadow

Turn part of your garden into a Wildflower Meadow
Hedgehog © Tom Marshall
Wildlife Factsheet

Hedgehog boxes

Help hedgehogs survive the winter
Wildlife gardening © Tom Marshall
Wildlife Factsheet

Trees, shrubs and hedging plant list

The best trees and shrubs for garden wildlife
Urban bee © Paul Hobson
Wildlife Factsheet

Urban gardens

Urban areas and gardens can be a much needed resource for wildlife
Frog eating a slug © Ben Rushbrook
Wildlife Factsheet

Wildlife friendly ‘pest control’

How to control slugs and snails in a wildlife friendly way

Gardening advice from Trust volunteers

We recognise that making space for nature is often more easily said than done and can be daunting for those just starting out on their wilder journey. No matter how much you read, sometimes talking to someone can give you a lot more confidence. Our Wilder Garden Champions are here to help you. They are gardening volunteers, vetted and trained by the Trust who will be able to give you free personal advice on how to make your spaces wilder that will benefit both you and nature.

Find out more

Wildlife Gardening Info Packs

Long Tailed Tit © John Windust
Wildlife Factsheet

Wildlife-friendly gardening

Wildlife-friendly gardening is about making a haven for you, as well as for wildlife.
Worm © RHS Tim Sandall
Wildlife Factsheet

Go wild for worms

At first glance they might not seem particularly special, but they’re essential for our soils and wildlife.
Bumblebee © Jon Hawkins, SurreyHillsPhotography
Wildlife Factsheet

Your wild bee action pack

A reduction in plant species diversity and the use of insecticides have all been linked to declining bee numbers. How you can help.

Wildlife Watch Spotter Sheets for Children

Butterfly spotter sheet

Country butterfly spotter sheet

Woodland butterfly spotter sheet

Moth spotter sheet

Dragonfly and damselfly spotter sheet