Cultivating a Wildlife-Friendly Garden: A Guide for Encouraging More Wildlife in Your Garden

In recent years, there's been a growing trend among gardeners to create spaces that please the eye while also supporting local wildlife. This shift towards wildlife-friendly gardening is more than just a passing fad; it's a crucial step in preserving biodiversity and creating balanced ecosystems in our gardens.

How to attract wildlife in your garden

Creating a balanced ecosystem in your garden isn't just about aesthetics. It's about fostering a space where various species can thrive, no matter how big or small your outside space is. This balance can lead to natural pest control, improved pollination, and a garden that's more resilient to environmental stresses.

With this in mind, we’ve collaborated with Sean McMenemy, founder of Ark Wildlife, who’s sharing his tips and tricks for creating little homes amongst our gardens. Ark Wildlife provides food and wildlife feeders for local wildlife, as part of their mission of creating safe environments for animals throughout the UK. Sean’s leading the charge, and we’re very excited to hear his advice in our guide. 

Why is wildlife gardening important?

Our gardens make up a larger area of Britain than all the nature reserves combined, meaning our green spaces become important for local wildlife to thrive. 

By inviting wildlife into our gardens, we're not just helping the natural environment - we're enriching our own lives too. Imagine sipping your morning cuppa whilst watching a family of robins forage for breakfast, or enjoying the gentle hum of bees as they pollinate your flowering plants. These simple pleasures are just the beginning of the benefits that a wildlife-friendly garden can bring. 

From saving many garden species from decline and absorbing pollution to improving our mental health, creating a safe space for creatures big and small will do wonders for us and our planet. 

Types of garden creatures in the UK

Before you start transforming your garden into a wildlife haven, it's crucial to understand the local fauna that you're likely to attract. The UK is home to a diverse array of wildlife, each playing a unique role in the ecosystem.

Common garden visitors in the UK include:

  • Garden birds such as blackbirds, robins, and house sparrows are frequent garden guests. These feathered friends not only add a melodious touch to your garden but also help control insect populations.
  • Foxes and badgers - while often considered as pests, foxes and badgers are actually quite gentle and will only attack if provoked. Any garden damage is often limited to fences and rubbish bins or when certain fertilisers and manure are used, and both creatures play a key role in biodiversity. 
  • Insects such as bees, ladybirds, butterflies and moths are essential pollinators and natural pest controllers. Encouraging their presence by planting a diverse range of plants and shrubs can significantly boost your garden's health.
  • Hedgehogs, despite their declining numbers, are still cherished garden visitors. Finding their way into our gardens through fences and gates, these nocturnal creatures are excellent for natural slug control.

It's important to note that wildlife activity in your garden will vary with the seasons. Spring and summer are bustling times, with birds nesting and insects in abundance. Autumn sees many creatures preparing for winter, while the colder months might bring different bird species seeking food and shelter.

5 wildlife garden ideas

When creating spaces for wildlife, you need to consider the key elements for wildlife gardening which include: 

  • Food and water sources 
  • Shelter or nesting spaces 
  • A safe space for breeding

Continue reading to find out how your garden can become a wildlife haven.  

1. Creating a water source

Water is essential for all forms of life, and providing a water source can dramatically increase the biodiversity in your garden. Even small water features can make a big difference.

Consider these options:

  • Ponds: If space allows, a pond can be a wildlife magnet, attracting everything from frogs and newts to dragonflies and birds. See how you can build your own garden pond here. 
  • Birdbaths: These provide drinking and bathing water for birds. Place them at different heights to cater to different species.
  • Shallow dishes: These can serve insects and small mammals. Even a plant pot saucer filled with water and a few pebbles can help.

Maintaining clean water is crucial. Regularly clean birdbaths and replace water in shallow dishes. For ponds, incorporating aquatic plants can help maintain water quality naturally. Plants like water lilies and hornwort not only look attractive but also provide shelter for pond life such as frogs, newts and toads.

Frog on mushroom
Photo by Sean McNenemy

2. Wildlife-friendly plants

The plants you choose play a crucial role in attracting and supporting wildlife. When planning your garden, consider the concept of layering plants. This involves incorporating different heights, vegetation and flowering plants.

  • Wall climbing plants - especially for urban gardens, such as ivy and ferns, and flowers like honeysuckle and wisteria. These plants attract pollinators and provide nests for critters and birds that are high above ground.
  • Hedges are a wildlife sanctuary, providing nesting spaces for birds, squirrels, mice and butterflies. Their berries and shrubs also make up a part of these animals’ diets. 
  • Lavender, primrose, thyme, daisies, hyssop and thistles are all also great plants for butterflies. 
  • Nettles - good for caterpillars and ladybirds. 
  • Wildflowers - for bees, moths and butterflies. Examples include bluebells, violets, daisies, chamomile and saffron. 
  • Trees - trees provide roosts and nests for birds, squirrels, owls, foxes and bats, as well as smaller creatures like beetles and bees. Many creatures also feed on wood - any dead branches can be used as log shelters for bugs like woodlice. Trees provide ground cover that protects soil-dwelling insects and provides hiding spots for smaller animals. 

By creating diverse habitats through thoughtful plant selection, you're essentially laying out a welcome mat for a wide range of wildlife.

When choosing the plants for your garden, try to pick options that will thrive without much interference, such as needing fertilisers. Creating a small wildflower meadow may be a great place to start as maintenance includes one annual mow, you can leave non-assertive weeds and will only need watering on warmer days. 

For wall climbers, hedges and trees, that require more maintenance throughout the year, you’ll need a garden ladder to work safely at height. The Henchman Fully Adjustable Tripod Ladder has three adjustable legs meaning you can remain level even on uneven ground. The guardrail means you can safely work hands-free whilst maintaining three points of contact with the ladder.  

3. Houses for the birds, bees… and the bugs

Big or small, no matter the size, birds and insects will find their way into our gardens. So we may as well help by providing shelters and pathways. 

Sean McMenemy, founder of Ark Wildlife says:

“Adding a nest box is a great way to encourage feathered friends to your garden. Autumn to Spring is the ideal time to hang a nest box ahead of the nesting season - this provides shelter during the cold months and gives birds plenty of time to establish the area as a safe space ahead of nesting season.

When you're ready to place your new nest box, keep in mind a few golden rules to increase the chances of it being adopted. While there are no guarantees with wildlife, these tips can help improve the likelihood of birds successfully selecting your garden to call home.”

  • Place the nest box facing north or northeast with a clear flight path in and out. Tilt the box slightly forward for extra protection so the rain can run directly off the roof.
  • Position the box near a tree or shrub, so the parent birds can land and survey the area before entering.
  • Avoid disturbing an active nest box—keep noise and activity to a minimum.
  • Avoid adding pegs or perches to the front of nest boxes, as they can be used by predators to enter the box.
  • Keep it clean! You can clean nest boxes by completely removing the old nest, which is best done in October or November once the brood has fledged. 

Remember, when hanging a nestbox, you’ll need your Henchman Fully Adjustable Tripod Ladder to keep you safe when working at height. 

Other shelters for wildlife

Sean continues “There’s a whole wonderful world of wildlife on our doorsteps - it’s not just all about the birds! Our gardens provide homes for an array of wildlife, including bugs, bees, butterflies, and not forgetting hedgehogs and bats!”

Hedgehog houses: 

“In the wild, hedgehogs look for coverage deep under brambles and hedges in fields and farmlands, as well as parks and woodland. As natural nesting spaces have become even more sparse, our gardens have become a saving sanctuary for these spikey pals. By providing a hedgehog house you can give them space to shelter, hibernate, rest and raise their hoglets.”

Insect houses:

“Want to enhance your garden's biodiversity? Consider setting up an insect house. There is a selection of insect houses available for all different bugs and creatures, such as solitary bees, ladybirds, and butterflies, but it is also very simple to make your own! By collecting garden debris like sticks, logs, dead leaves and pinecones and putting them in a quiet spot in the garden, you can invite a whole host of insects to your patch.”

Bat boxes: 

“As the golden hues of the summer sun dip below the horizon, many find joy in sitting quietly in their gardens, enchanted by the sight of bats gliding gracefully through the twilight sky. These tiny, wondrous beings often make their homes nearby, drawn to our gardens for their bounty of food, water, and shelter. Yet, sadly, the places they once called home are disappearing, leaving them in need of new sanctuaries. By placing a bat box into your garden, you can help protect these extraordinary creatures, offering them a haven where they can continue to thrive.”

4. Food, glorious food!

So you’re sitting here thinking,  ‘How can I attract wildlife into my garden?’ Well, the answer is food. 

This may be in the form of plants you introduce into your garden, or it could be leaving out specific food to attract wildlife. 

Sean says: 

“Feeding the birds throughout the year not only nurtures local birdlife, but it also brings us endless delight as we watch them flutter down to the feeders. During the bustling nesting season, when parent birds are tirelessly flitting to and from to feed their hungry chicks, they often need a little extra help to keep their energy up. Another important time to lend a hand is during the chilly winter months when natural sources run low and feathered friends might struggle to find a nourishing meal. By offering a bit of extra food, we can make a world of difference for these lively visitors

"During the nesting months from March to September, a high-protein diet is essential for keeping birds strong and healthy. Ideal high-protein options include mealworms, sunflower hearts, or a specialised bird food blend, like the Ark Wildlife Summer Support Mix, which is rich in protein and calcium to support birds during this bustling time.

"As winter’s chill sets in, high-fat foods become crucial to help our feathered friends stay energised and warm through the long, cold nights. Small birds can lose up to 10% of their body weight in a single winter night just trying to stay warm, so they need to replenish this energy come morning to survive another frosty day. Fat balls, packed with rich, fatty goodness, are a versatile treat loved by many garden visitors. Suet blocks are another fantastic option, offering a calorie-dense meal with every beakful, ensuring your feathered guests have the fuel they need to thrive through the winter."

Bird on tree trunk
Photo by Sean McNenemy

5. Compost heaps

No garden is a wildlife garden with a compost heap. Beneficial to both wildlife and gardeners, compost heaps provide a whole ecosystem of food to hedgehogs, snails, slugs and woodlice, and also a home for creatures such as slow worms. It also provides nutrient-rich compost for you to feed into your soil for your plants to soak up. 

What can be composted? 

  • Grass cuttings
  • Dead leaves
  • Fruit and vegetable scraps and peels
  • Old flowers and plants - no weeds, woody stems or diseased plants
  • Eggshells

You can easily build a compost heap with some items you may already have lying around such as bricks, long sticks or branches, soil or manure, a piece of mulch matting and your compostable items. Choose a shady spot in the garden to keep the contents moist and wet any dry materials before adding. 

  • Start with your brick base about 1 metre wide. 
  • Layer on your sticks and branches, this will help with drainage. 
  • Add a layer of compostable material
  • Add a layer of soil or manure, this will help to break down the compost ingredients
  • Repeat with a layer of compost material and another layer of soil
  • Finally, layer over the mulch matting, this will keep it warm and dry
  • Turn the compost heap with a garden fork after 3 months, being careful of wildlife that may be hiding or hibernating.
  • The compost is ready for use when it is dark and crumbly.

You can add sides to your compost heap to keep it better contained by using old wooden pallets but it is not essential. 

Small wildlife garden tips and ideas

If you don’t have much space in your garden, there are still some easy ways you can encourage wildlife into your green haven. Even if your outside space is a window box, just planting pollen-rich flowers will attract bees and butterflies. Nothing is too small when it contributes to supporting local ecosystems. 

  • Use wall climbing plants if you’re tight on space. 
  • If you don’t have room for a pond, get creative with an old bucket, watering can or even lots of pots to create mini ponds throughout your garden. 
  • Window boxes can used for planting lavender or fuchsia. 
  • Replace any fencing with hedges and shrubs. 
  • Bird, bee and bug houses can be fixed to walls and fences. 
  • Add bird feeders or a bird table

Gardening with Henchman 

Creating a wildlife-friendly garden is a rewarding endeavour that benefits not just local fauna, but enriches our own lives too. By choosing the right plants, you'll likely find that your garden becomes more vibrant, more interesting, and more alive. You're not just creating a beautiful space; you're playing a crucial role in supporting biodiversity and connecting with nature in a meaningful way.

As you embark on this journey, remember to have the right tools on hand for the job. When working at height, using the Henchman Fully Adjustable Tripod Ladder allows you to climb with confidence knowing you’ll be safe and stable even on uneven ground. Check out our range of pruning tools to help with hedge, tree and climber maintenance and get yourself a pair of the Henchman leather garden gloves, great for all types of gardening jobs.