Charles Darwin once said, ‘The love for all living creatures is the most noble attribute of man’ and this is a mindset that all gardeners should have when working in their own outdoor spaces – be it a balcony or something more substantial.
Biodiversity is currently a hot topic but what does it mean? Put simply, biodiversity is all the different kinds of life you’ll find in one area, including animals, plants, fungi and microorganisms that make up the natural world. All these species live and work together in ecosystems which maintain balance in the natural world and help to support all life – including ours. By ensuring our outdoor spaces have as many different types of life as possible, we can improve the health of the natural world around us and have the privilege of seeing the wonder of nature up close.
So how can we make our gardens wildlife friendly to ensure we support a wide range of plant and animal life?
Planting for the environment
In order to create a habitat which is unique to Britain, you should consider planting trees and shrubs which are native to the UK to encourage our native species of animals.
One tree to consider is the Acer campestre commonly known as field maple or common maple. These lovely deciduous trees turn yellow or red in the autumn and will be happy in full or partial sun in any aspect of your garden. They produce fruit for the birds in late summer and early autumn.
Another is a silver birch or Betula pendula which is available as a single or multi-stemmed specimen. These trees have striking white or peeling brown bark and the small ovate leaves create a dappled shade and produce catkins in the spring followed by fruit in the summer months.
For a colourful native tree with beautiful white flowers in late spring followed by orange-red berries in early autumn, why not try a Sorbus aucuparia or rowan tree, also know as a mountain ash. These striking trees are hardy and will grow in any aspect in well-drained soil.
As well as trees, there are lots of plants that you can incorporate into a wildlife friendly garden to attract pollinating insects like bees, butterflies and moths. Bees collect nectar and pollen as food for themselves and their larvae and as they collect pollen from one flower, they spread it to other flowers which is essential if you are growing fruit and vegetables. To attract these vital insects, you need a diverse range of plants and flowers in your gardens to provide food and habitat throughout the year.
The RHS has a special logo called ‘Plants for Pollinators’ which is available online when searching for wildlife friendly plants. As well as cultivated varieties of plants, the RHS also have a suggested list of British wildflowers and the best conditions in which to grow them. Visit Plants For Pollinators to find out more.
Generally single, open flowers where you can see the central part of the flower are the most ‘bee friendly’ and remember that some bees are active in February while others are still flying in November. This means that spring and autumn flowering bulbs are vital sources of nectar for these bees so make sure you plant a range which will flower over a long season.
Growing climbing plants is also a great way to make your garden more wildlife friendly as plants like Ivy produce pollen rich flowers and seeds and it also provides cover for nesting birds and insects. Clematis, honeysuckle and climbing roses are also nectar rich and dense foliage can provide shelter for insects.
Change your gardening habits
Allow lawn ‘weeds’ to flower by cutting the grass less often as exemplified by ‘No Mow May’ this year. By letting some or all of your lawn grow, you will encourage a range of plant and insect species. Alternatively, only mow your grass once every three to four weeks on a higher setting to allow short grass plants like daisies and clover a chance to flower and provide important nectar for pollinators.
Why not give yourself a break from weeding or relax about weeds in your garden, for as Winne the Pooh wisely said,
‘Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them’.
Plants like daisies, buttercups and even nettles are important sources of food for bees, butterflies and moths so why not give them a chance!
An important thing that all gardeners should do is to avoid using pesticides and never spray open flowers as bees and other insects will become poisoned by the chemicals in your spray as they feed on the nectar. Remove pests by hand if you can and in a truly biodiverse garden you will begin to encourage natural predators for your pests like ladybirds that will eat your aphids. Also try companion planting, by planting strong smelling plants like marigolds and herbs in your flower beds to repel insects. Did you know that Nasturtiums are sometimes planted as ‘sacrificial’ plants as insects will feed on them while leaving your vegetables and other plants alone?
Other things to do….
Provide nest sites and habitats for insects and birds to enhance the wildlife friendly aspect of your garden. Bird boxes should be situated high up and in a sheltered spot, so they are safe from predators. In the spring, you can also provide protein rich food like fat balls to support birds who are nesting and getting ready to lay and hatch eggs.
For insects, piles of rocks, twigs and rotting wood in your garden make ideal shelters and provide sanctuary from extremes of temperature. Some bees are solitary and will burrow into sandy soil, short grass or even bricks, so make sure you have areas like this in your garden too!
Creating a compost heap is a great way to encourage a biodiverse environment in your garden as making and using your own compost will naturally enrich your soil. Compost heaps also provide habitat for worms, woodlice and other insects – if you are very lucky you might even find a slow worm or two.
As well as food and habitat, the wildlife in your garden will also need a drink so make sure you have a water source handy. This doesn’t have to be a pond, but if you do have the space for even a small body of water like a buried trough or bucket, you will encourage frogs or maybe newts into your garden. A water source like a pond will need some shade and some aerating plants like water lilies or pond weed so it doesn’t become stagnant. If you don’t have space or time for a pond, then a birdbath or deep dish in your flower beds will be fine – remember to put some pebbles in it so insects and smaller birds can get out once they have had a drink.
Finally, leave a gap at the bottom of your fence for hedgehogs and frogs to pass through. Not only will this help them to access your wildlife friendly garden, but it will help to link different habitats together to create even greater biodiversity in the surrounding area.
If you would like further advice or information about how to make a wildlife friendly garden, please get in touch.
