How to create a wildlife garden

Creating a wildlife garden is a rewarding way to attract and support local fauna while beautifying your space. Here is a quick guide to getting started:

 1. Plan your space:

   - Assess your garden area for sunlight, shade, and existing plants.

   - Decide on the features you want to include, such as flower beds, trees, or water sources.

- Consider engaging a garden designer to assist you.

2. Choose native or near-native plants:

   - Select plants native to northern Europe if you can, and make sure you have a good quantity of plants native to your part of the UK. This will help ensure that you provide the best habitat and food sources for local wildlife. Examples include wildflowers, shrubs, and trees that support insects, birds, and other animals.

3. Create diverse habitats:

   - Incorporate various types of plants to create different layers (ground cover, shrubs, and trees).

   - Add features like rock piles, logs, or brush piles to provide shelter for small animals.

4. Provide water sources:

   - Install a pond, birdbath, or shallow dishes filled with water to attract birds and other wildlife.

5. Limit lawn areas:

   - Reduce the size of traditional lawns, which often provide less habitat. Instead, plant wildflowers or clover to create more biodiversity. You can also consider carefully demarcated areas of long grass, and you can plug-plant wildflowers to increase colour.

6. Avoid chemicals:

   - As far as is possible, and it is often entirely possible, eliminate the use of chemicals in your garden. Embrace the presence of some weeds, and understand that slugs & snails are an important part of your garden ecosystem.

7. Provide food sources:

   - Incorporate plants that produce berries, seeds, and nectar. Also, consider putting up bird feeders, insect hotels, bee posts or bat boxes.

8. Create a wildlife corridor**:

   - If possible, connect your garden with neighboring habitats to allow wildlife to move freely.

9. Be patient:

   - Wildlife will take time to discover and inhabit your garden. Enjoy the process and observe the changes as the garden matures.

10. Educate and involve family:

    - Involve family members, especially children, in the gardening process to foster a love for nature and wildlife.

 By following these steps, you can create an inviting and enriching environment for wildlife while enjoying the beauty of your garden.

Profile:

Tom Angel is a Chartered Horticulturist, Master of Horticulture (RHS), former branch chairman of the Chartered Institute of Horticulture, and worked previously as a landscape maintenance contractor. Tom is a passionate naturalist and loves encouraging wildlife into all his gardens.

To discuss any aspect of wildlife garden design, give Tom a call on 0141 432 1141 or email on tom@tomangel.co.uk