Gardening Are Based on Four Things: Things: Four on Based Are Gardening 4

to help any wildlife that may have fallen in. in. fallen have may that wildlife any help to rocks. large with down it Weigh heavy winter rain and prevent flooding. prevent and rain winter heavy phosphate, ferrous on based pellets

Consider adding a plank of wood as a ramp ramp a as wood of plank a adding Consider this. into liner the of edge the lay and pond, them again in autumn to help absorb absorb help to autumn in again them alternative methods – for example example for – methods alternative

Watch and see what wildlife visits. visits. wildlife what see and Watch your of edge the around all trench a Make your soil moist in hot weather. Mulch Mulch weather. hot in moist soil your will get into the food chain. Investigate Investigate chain. food the into get will

Mulch your borders in spring to keep keep to spring in borders your Mulch on metaldehyde or methiocarb as this this as methiocarb or metaldehyde on

problem avoid using slug pellets based based pellets slug using avoid problem

downpipes outside your house. your outside downpipes hedgehogs. If slugs or snails are a a are snails or slugs If hedgehogs.

Save water. Install water butts under under butts water Install water. Save of wildlife, eaten by frogs, toads and and toads frogs, by eaten wildlife, of

Slugs are part of the garden’s cycle cycle garden’s the of part are Slugs

. other insects other

blackfly and is thought not to harm harm to not thought is and blackfly overwintering insects such as ladybirds. as such insects overwintering 6 3

and greenfly against effective shelter. Perennials left standing will help help will standing left Perennials shelter.

Diluted household detergent is is detergent household Diluted a great place for creepy crawlies to to crawlies creepy for place great a

from sharp stones). sharp from before adding your plants. your adding before by birds. Plant stems and leaves are are leaves and stems Plant birds. by

Coat the hole with sand (to protect the liner liner the protect (to sand with hole the Coat Leave your pond to settle for about a week week a about for settle to pond your Leave Seed heads left uncut will be enjoyed enjoyed be will uncut left heads Seed as copper bands or gritty sand. gritty or bands copper as

Resist the urge to tidy up in autumn! autumn! in up tidy to urge the Resist such barriers create that products or

Handy hints for the wildlife gardener wildlife the for hints Handy

2 5

their home there. home their encourage wildlife to your garden. your to wildlife encourage level to ensure that the edges are level. are edges the that ensure to level don’t worry, this is just the minerals. the just is this worry, don’t

shallow areas. Use a plank and a spirit spirit a and plank a Use areas. shallow a tap or hose your water might turn green - - green turn might water your hose or tap a plants, animals and birds that make make that birds and animals plants, of planting. Any of these features will will features these of Any planting. of

pond outline and dig it out, including some some including out, it dig and outline pond Fill the pond up with water. If you fill it from from it fill you If water. with up pond the Fill

space, where you can enjoy the the enjoy can you where space, trees, deadwood, water and variety variety and water deadwood, trees,

your Draw spot. your Choose

rewarded by a truly natural outdoor outdoor natural truly a by rewarded gardening are based on four things: things: four on based are gardening 4

By gardening for wildlife, you’ll be be you’ll wildlife, for gardening By The essentials of successful wildlife wildlife successful of essentials The

CHILDREN

A HAZARD TO TO HAZARD A

a haven for you, as well as for wildlife. for as well as you, for haven a

PONDS CAN BE BE CAN PONDS

1 THAT DEEP DEEP THAT

Wildlife-friendly gardening is about making making about is gardening Wildlife-friendly

REMEMBER REMEMBER

shade in the afternoon. Avoid nearby trees. nearby Avoid afternoon. the in shade Look for a spot with plenty of sun, with with sun, of plenty with spot a for Look

the benefits the

suck them up. them suck Large rocks Large plants Pond l l

the pump may may pump the

Water liner pond Butyl

l l

life forms while while forms life

Sand level spirit A l l

eat the smaller smaller the eat

A spade A wood of plank A

l l

a pump. Fish will will Fish pump. a feel ...and

Don’t add fish or or fish add Don’t

You will need will You

wildlife pond wildlife ... wildlife for

Make room Make

Make a Make

Every garden The Wildlife Trusts’ Guide to provides a vital link for wildlife Wildlife Up to a quarter of a city’s area can be can make a big difference for wildlife. made up of gardens. Although each Hedgehogs, sparrows, song thrushes garden on its own may be small, and stag beetles are all declining together they form a patchwork linking species in the UK. If we manage our Gardening urban green spaces with nature gardens for wildlife, these creatures reserves and the wider countryside. and many more will feel the benefits.

With an estimated 24 million gardens So give it a go and watch as wildlife in the UK, the way they are managed brings colour, movement and beauty to your garden.

Visit www.wildlifetrusts.org/gardening Join The for more ideas. Wildlife Trusts

You can make a real difference Wild About Gardens to our work to protect wildlife by becoming a member of your Wildlife gardening information local Wildlife Trust. and advice from The Wildlife Trusts’ partnership with the Royal Your money will help look after Horticultural Society can be found at: the wildlife and wild places www.wildaboutgardens.org.uk in your area, and support your Trust in their work to inspire Vine House Farm people about nature, including working with local schools Bird Foods and communities. The Wildlife Trusts are proud to To find out more about work in partnership with Vine membership please visit: House Farm Bird Foods. As much www.wildlifetrusts.org or call seed as possible is grown on their us on 01636 677711. conservation award-winning farm in Lincolnshire. By using Vine House Reg charity no 207238 Farm Bird Food you are supporting © The Wildlife Trusts 2018 your local Wildlife Trust. www.vinehousefarm.co.uk Design: Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Illustrations: Corinne Welch, Cover Photo: Bachkova Natalia

180907 Wildlife Gardening Leaflet v5 MB.indd 1 07/09/2018 14:52:43

to help any wildlife that may have fallen in. in. fallen have may that wildlife any help to rocks. large with down it Weigh phosphate, ferrous on based pellets heavy winter rain and prevent flooding. prevent and rain winter heavy

Consider adding a plank of wood as a ramp ramp a as wood of plank a adding Consider this. into liner the of edge the lay and pond, alternative methods – for example example for – methods alternative them again in autumn to help absorb absorb help to autumn in again them

Watch and see what wildlife visits. visits. wildlife what see and Watch your of edge the around all trench a Make will get into the food chain. Investigate Investigate chain. food the into get will your soil moist in hot weather. Mulch Mulch weather. hot in moist soil your

on metaldehyde or methiocarb as this this as methiocarb or metaldehyde on Mulch your borders in spring to keep keep to spring in borders your Mulch

problem avoid using slug pellets based based pellets slug using avoid problem

downpipes outside your house. your outside downpipes hedgehogs. If slugs or snails are a a are snails or slugs If hedgehogs.

Save water. Install water butts under under butts water Install water. Save of wildlife, eaten by frogs, toads and and toads frogs, by eaten wildlife, of

Slugs are part of the garden’s cycle cycle garden’s the of part are Slugs

. other insects other

overwintering insects such as ladybirds. as such insects overwintering blackfly and is thought not to harm harm to not thought is and blackfly 3 6

shelter. Perennials left standing will help help will standing left Perennials shelter. and greenfly against effective

a great place for creepy crawlies to to crawlies creepy for place great a Diluted household detergent is is detergent household Diluted

from sharp stones). sharp from before adding your plants. your adding before by birds. Plant stems and leaves are are leaves and stems Plant birds. by

Resist the urge to tidy up in autumn! autumn! in up tidy to urge the Resist such barriers create that products or

Handy hints for the wildlife gardener wildlife the for hints Handy

2 5

pond outline and dig it out, including some some including out, it dig and outline pond Fill the pond up with water. If you fill it from from it fill you If water. with up pond the Fill

space, where you can enjoy the the enjoy can you where space, trees, deadwood, water and variety variety and water deadwood, trees,

your Draw spot. your Choose

rewarded by a truly natural outdoor outdoor natural truly a by rewarded gardening are based on four things: things: four on based are gardening 4

By gardening for wildlife, you’ll be be you’ll wildlife, for gardening By The essentials of successful wildlife wildlife successful of essentials The

CHILDREN

A HAZARD TO TO HAZARD A

a haven for you, as well as for wildlife. for as well as you, for haven a

PONDS CAN BE BE CAN PONDS

1 THAT DEEP DEEP THAT

Wildlife-friendly gardening is about making making about is gardening Wildlife-friendly

REMEMBER REMEMBER

shade in the afternoon. Avoid nearby trees. nearby Avoid afternoon. the in shade Look for a spot with plenty of sun, with with sun, of plenty with spot a for Look

the benefits the

suck them up. them suck Large rocks Large plants Pond l l

the pump may may pump the

Water liner pond Butyl

l l

life forms while while forms life

Sand level spirit A l l

eat the smaller smaller the eat

A spade A wood of plank A

l l ...and feel feel ...and a pump. Fish will will Fish pump. a

Don’t add fish or or fish add Don’t

You will need will You

wildlife pond wildlife for wildlife for ...

Make room Make

Make a Make

With an estimated 24 million gardens So give it a go and watch as wildlife in the UK, the way they are managed brings colour, movement and beauty to your garden.

Visit www.wildlifetrusts.org/gardening Join The for more ideas. Wildlife Trusts

180907 Wildlife Gardening Leaflet v5 MB.indd 1 20/09/2018 15:21:56

on metaldehyde or methiocarb as this this as methiocarb or metaldehyde on Mulch your borders in spring to keep keep to spring in borders your Mulch

problem avoid using slug pellets based based pellets slug using avoid problem

downpipes outside your house. your outside downpipes hedgehogs. If slugs or snails are a a are snails or slugs If hedgehogs.

Save water. Install water butts under under butts water Install water. Save of wildlife, eaten by frogs, toads and and toads frogs, by eaten wildlife, of

Slugs are part of the garden’s cycle cycle garden’s the of part are Slugs

. other insects other

overwintering insects such as ladybirds. as such insects overwintering blackfly and is thought not to harm harm to not thought is and blackfly 6 3

shelter. Perennials left standing will help help will standing left Perennials shelter. and greenfly against effective

a great place for creepy crawlies to to crawlies creepy for place great a Diluted household detergent is is detergent household Diluted

from sharp stones). sharp from before adding your plants. your adding before by birds. Plant stems and leaves are are leaves and stems Plant birds. by

Resist the urge to tidy up in autumn! autumn! in up tidy to urge the Resist such barriers create that products or

Handy hints for the wildlife gardener wildlife the for hints Handy

2 5

pond outline and dig it out, including some some including out, it dig and outline pond Fill the pond up with water. If you fill it from from it fill you If water. with up pond the Fill

space, where you can enjoy the the enjoy can you where space, trees, deadwood, water and variety variety and water deadwood, trees,

your Draw spot. your Choose

rewarded by a truly natural outdoor outdoor natural truly a by rewarded gardening are based on four things: things: four on based are gardening 4

By gardening for wildlife, you’ll be be you’ll wildlife, for gardening By The essentials of successful wildlife wildlife successful of essentials The

CHILDREN

A HAZARD TO TO HAZARD A

a haven for you, as well as for wildlife. for as well as you, for haven a

PONDS CAN BE BE CAN PONDS

1 THAT DEEP DEEP THAT

Wildlife-friendly gardening is about making making about is gardening Wildlife-friendly

REMEMBER REMEMBER

shade in the afternoon. Avoid nearby trees. nearby Avoid afternoon. the in shade Look for a spot with plenty of sun, with with sun, of plenty with spot a for Look

the benefits the

suck them up. them suck Large rocks Large plants Pond

l l

the pump may may pump the

Water liner pond Butyl

l l

life forms while while forms life

Sand level spirit A

l l

eat the smaller smaller the eat

A spade A wood of plank A

l l ...and feel feel ...and

a pump. Fish will will Fish pump. a

Don’t add fish or or fish add Don’t

You will need will You

wildlife pond wildlife for wildlife for ...

Make room Make

Make a Make

With an estimated 24 million gardens So give it a go and watch as wildlife in the UK, the way they are managed brings colour, movement and beauty to your garden.

Visit www.wildlifetrusts.org/gardening Join The for more ideas. Wildlife Trusts

180907 Wildlife Gardening Leaflet v5 MB.indd 1 20/09/2018 15:21:56 Small gardens Gardening for wildlife A small space is not a barrier to gardening for Getting started which have nectar-rich flowers followed by fruit. wildlife; small changes can have a real impact. Wildlife needs four things – food, water, shelter and Make sure you have some evergreens too - ivy is great! a place to breed. By providing these things you will l Make imaginative use of walls, roofs and bring your garden to life. Go organic other structures. Encourage insect and slug-eating creatures instead Butterfly gardens of using pesticides. Gardeners’ friends include frogs l Even the smallest of ‘ponds’ are valuable – Attract butterflies with nectar-rich flowers like verbena, and toads, birds, and small mammals like bats and old sinks and buckets can teem with wildlife. scabious and ice-plant. Go for plants with simple hedgehogs – all of which eat insects or slugs. Ladybirds, flowers that make it easy for butterflies to get at the lacewings and hoverflies feast on aphids. l Plant a window box or container with nectar. Many cottage garden flowers are suitable. Plant butterfly nectar plants such as lavender or in a sheltered sunny spot and don’t forget to provide Hedges marjoram – or night-scented stocks and food plants for caterpillars too. (See the box below for Hedges provide living space and food for all sorts tobacco plants for moths. plant suggestions) of wildlife. Good native choices include hawthorn, blackthorn, wild rose, holly, hazel and elder. Berberis and l Make a small gravel garden planted with Butterfly Food plant pyracantha also produce lots of berries for the birds. nectar-providing perennials such as scabious, species for caterpillar or plant in spaces in a paved area. l Meadow brown Grasses including meadow grass, Native trees l Gatekeeper false brome, cocksfoot, Favour native trees. Here are some species good l Marbled white Yorkshire fog for wildlife. l Large skipper Trees: alder, ash, aspen, beech, birch, bird cherry l Large and Wild/cultivated cabbages and wild cherry, crab apple, field maple, hazel, holly, small white juniper, oak, Scot’s pine, rowan, yew, whitebeam, l Green-veined white Lady’s smock, hedge garlic, willow, wych elm. l Orange-tip hedge mustard Shrubs: alder buckthorn, blackthorn, broom, l Brimstone Alder buckthorn, purging buckthorn buckthorn, dog-rose, dogwood, elder, guelder-rose, hawthorn, spindle. l Common blue Bird’s foot trefoil l Painted lady Thistles Peat-free gardening Peat bogs are very special places for wildlife but, partly Climbing plants due to gardeners’ demand for peat, nearly all have Climbing plants on fences and walls make nesting and been destroyed in the UK. Help save our remaining roosting sites for birds, and a haven for insects and small bogs by using peat-free composts and mulches, such animals. Choose plants like quince and honeysuckle as chipped bark, leaf mould or coir.

Cracks and crevices Compost bins Many plants grow on walls, including ivy-leaved Make your own natural fertiliser. Compost garden toadflax, various ferns, red valerian and, of course, waste and vegetable kitchen scraps. Nectar-giving plants wallflower. Spiders and solitary bees like nooks and for butterflies crannies, and rockeries will shelter many creatures. Pile of logs A pile of logs in a shady corner will feed beetle Spring: Feeding birds larvae and shelter animals such as frogs, toads and Primrose, aubretia, Provide nuts, seeds and fat balls in feeders, trays and slow worms. Hedgehogs often hibernate in wood sweet rocket on the ground. Insect eaters will appreciate mealworms piles. If you’re having a bonfire check for sleeping sprinkled on the ground or in fat. Move feeding places hedgehogs first. Summer: from time to time to guard against predators, disease Lavender, cat mint, thyme, and unwelcome visitors such as rats. Nettle feeders heliotrope, red valerian, hebe, Nettles are the food plant of the caterpillars of some buddleia, knapweed Meadow magic beautiful butterflies: red admiral, peacock, small A meadow makes a wonderful alternative to plain tortoiseshell and comma. Butterflies prefer not to lay Autumn: grass and brings vibrant colour to your lawn. It can be their eggs in the shade, so choose a sunny spot and let Michaelmas daisy, sweet difficult to make a meadow from scratch but you can nettles grow. scabious, hyssop, ice-plant easily plant meadow flowers as plugs into your grass. Generally cowslip, ox-eye daisy, meadow cranesbill, Bird boxes yellow rattle, self-heal and meadow buttercup do well. Tits need boxes with a 28mm entrance hole, house Remember not to mow over them! sparrows and nuthatches around 32mm. Open-fronted boxes attract robins and spotted flycatchers. Remember that water is vitally important, so if Do not put boxes in full sun, and do site them away you have a bird bath or pond keep it topped up from places that predators might attack from, such as and ensure it’s ice-free. overhanging branches.

180907 Wildlife Gardening Leaflet v5 MB.indd 2 07/09/2018 14:52:56

Weigh it down with large rocks. large with down it Weigh to help any wildlife that may have fallen in. in. fallen have may that wildlife any help to heavy winter rain and prevent flooding. prevent and rain winter heavy phosphate, ferrous on based pellets

pond, and lay the edge of the liner into this. this. into liner the of edge the lay and pond, Consider adding a plank of wood as a ramp ramp a as wood of plank a adding Consider them again in autumn to help absorb absorb help to autumn in again them alternative methods – for example example for – methods alternative

Make a trench all around the edge of your your of edge the around all trench a Make Watch and see what wildlife visits. visits. wildlife what see and Watch your soil moist in hot weather. Mulch Mulch weather. hot in moist soil your will get into the food chain. Investigate Investigate chain. food the into get will

Mulch your borders in spring to keep keep to spring in borders your Mulch on metaldehyde or methiocarb as this this as methiocarb or metaldehyde on

problem avoid using slug pellets based based pellets slug using avoid problem

downpipes outside your house. your outside downpipes hedgehogs. If slugs or snails are a a are snails or slugs If hedgehogs.

Save water. Install water butts under under butts water Install water. Save of wildlife, eaten by frogs, toads and and toads frogs, by eaten wildlife, of

Slugs are part of the garden’s cycle cycle garden’s the of part are Slugs

. other insects other

blackfly and is thought not to harm harm to not thought is and blackfly overwintering insects such as ladybirds. as such insects overwintering 6 3

and greenfly against effective shelter. Perennials left standing will help help will standing left Perennials shelter.

Diluted household detergent is is detergent household Diluted a great place for creepy crawlies to to crawlies creepy for place great a

from sharp stones). sharp from before adding your plants. your adding before by birds. Plant stems and leaves are are leaves and stems Plant birds. by

Resist the urge to tidy up in autumn! autumn! in up tidy to urge the Resist such barriers create that products or

Handy hints for the wildlife gardener wildlife the for hints Handy

2 5

pond outline and dig it out, including some some including out, it dig and outline pond Fill the pond up with water. If you fill it from from it fill you If water. with up pond the Fill

space, where you can enjoy the the enjoy can you where space, trees, deadwood, water and variety variety and water deadwood, trees,

your Draw spot. your Choose

rewarded by a truly natural outdoor outdoor natural truly a by rewarded gardening are based on four things: things: four on based are gardening 4

By gardening for wildlife, you’ll be be you’ll wildlife, for gardening By The essentials of successful wildlife wildlife successful of essentials The

CHILDREN

A HAZARD TO TO HAZARD A

a haven for you, as well as for wildlife. for as well as you, for haven a

PONDS CAN BE BE CAN PONDS

1 THAT DEEP DEEP THAT

Wildlife-friendly gardening is about making making about is gardening Wildlife-friendly

REMEMBER REMEMBER

shade in the afternoon. Avoid nearby trees. nearby Avoid afternoon. the in shade Look for a spot with plenty of sun, with with sun, of plenty with spot a for Look

the benefits the

suck them up. them suck Large rocks Large plants Pond

l l

the pump may may pump the

Water liner pond Butyl

l l

life forms while while forms life

Sand level spirit A

l l

eat the smaller smaller the eat

A spade A wood of plank A

l l

a pump. Fish will will Fish pump. a feel ...and

Don’t add fish or or fish add Don’t

You will need will You

wildlife pond wildlife ... wildlife for

Make room Make

Make a Make

With an estimated 24 million gardens So give it a go and watch as wildlife in the UK, the way they are managed brings colour, movement and beauty to your garden.

Visit www.wildlifetrusts.org/gardening Join The for more ideas. Wildlife Trusts

180907 Wildlife Gardening Leaflet v5 MB.indd 1 07/09/2018 14:52:43