How To Attract Wildlife In Your Garden

A garden doesn’t need to be overrun with weeds or to be specifically designed to attract wildlife. Any well-tended garden can attract quite a range of insects, birds and animals. So don’t worry that you may have to turn your garden into a wild-wood to attract wildlife, and instead consider some of the simpler solutions.

All creatures need water, food and a habitat in which to live. If your garden can provide these requirements, then rest assured wildlife will soon find them.

Water.

Any garden with water has the potential to attract a lot of wildlife. For instance, a garden pond is ideal for frogs and toads looking for somewhere to lay their spawn. While many insect larvae live in water, the nymphs of the dragonfly being one. Ensure that there is easy access for anything trying to get in or out of the water and that the pond does not become stagnant or clogged up with weeds. A healthy eco-system within the pond will help with this anyway.

Even if you do not have space for a pond, try and ensure that there is a source of clean drinking water. Ideally, more than one water bowl offered at different levels. Birds are always attracted to a source of clean drinking water, while bees often need somewhere to drink and need a shallow bowl.

Food.

Food can be put out to attract birds and animals such as squirrels. However, try as much as you can to utilise your plants as a source of food. Shrubs such as berberis provide berries for birds, as will cotoneaster. Grow a crab-apple, whose fruits are also popular.

Leave a corner of the garden to grow a few native plants. Nettles are a food plant for the caterpillars of many butterflies, dandelion seeds are eaten by birds and mice, thistles are a food source for finches. If you want a variety of wildlife then you need variety in your planting and do not be too worried about pests such as greenfly or slugs and snails.

Greenfly are eaten by birds such as the blue tit; and by a host of predatory insects such as ladybirds, lacewings, hover-flies and their larvae. Slugs will attract frogs, toads and hedgehogs. While thrushes can often be seen tackling snails. The buddleia, or butterfly bush, is a wonderful source of nectar, so butterflies and bees will flock to it.

When choosing flowers opt for single-flowered varieties. Specially bred double-flowered varieties do not produce nectar or pollen, so are of no benefit to insects.

Habitat.

There should also be varied habitats within the garden. Besides the pond which has already been discussed. Birds will need trees or shrubs in which to nest. A hedge provides the ideal environment for blackbirds to nest, offering shelter from the elements and protection from predators.

A compost heap is a good idea; as it is the ideal place fro many insects to overwinter, or maybe a hedgehog to hibernate. If you can, keep an area of lawn unmown as this will attract grasshoppers, and maybe also mice which enjoy the cover it affords. In a shady corner pile up some rocks, somewhere cool and wet for amphibians to shelter.

Any kind of garden is more beneficial for wildlife than an expanse of concrete, so whichever way you chose to garden, you are doing your bit for the environment.

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