With summer in full swing, we’re all spending more and more time in our gardens and outdoor spaces. So, if you’re looking for a summer project to enjoy with your children over the summer break then why not give nature a helping hand?
Turning your garden into a haven for wildlife is pretty simple and pretty budget friendly too! So, here you’ll find a beginners guide to creating a wildlife friendly garden this summer.
Plants and trees
All gardens are filled with plants and flowers, they bring beautiful sights, gorgeous smells and bright colours to any outdoor space. So, why not choose some more that can help wildlife flourish? Growing plenty of varieties of flowering trees, bushes, plants and flowers means that insects and small animals will have enough food to last all year round. You can find a wide range of plants and trees perfect for your garden from this website.
Growing climbing plants such as ivy and honeysuckle is ideal for cover for birds and insects – it also provides food and pollen for bees.
Birdboxes and feeders
If you don’t have any trees in your garden, then don’t worry. You can still provide the perfect retreat for birds big and small. You could spend a summer afternoon building and painting your own birdboxes from scratch, or head to your local plant nursery and see what they have there. If you want to invite a different variation of birds to your garden then put up a bird table, keep it topped up with lots of different types of bird nuts and seeds and watch the daily drama unfold!
Let the grass grow
It might be tempting to cut the grass and have it looking neat and tidy but allowing the grass to grow a little more than usual is great for wildlife. Allowing your grass to grow makes it the perfect place for butterflies, bumblebees and all manner of insects to flourish and enjoy. It also means lots of food for other animals such as hedgehogs and birds. So, leave the mower in the shed and put your feet up this weekend instead!
Your garden fence
Having a garden fence is great for security, but don’t block it off for hedgehogs and frogs. Creating gaps at the bottom of your fence will allow enough room for small animals to come and visit, without compromising the security of your home.
Insect hotel
Is your garden looking a little messy with lots of debris? Well, before you dispose of all those twigs and rocks, consider creating an insect hotel! Rotting wood, rocks, stones and leaves are the perfect hiding place for mini beasts and insects of all shapes and sizes. Don’t forget your magnifying glass!
A pond
A pond doesn’t have to be huge for wildlife to appreciate it. You can create a place for wildlife by filling a bucket or a small trough with water. Just remember that if you have any open water in your garden, no matter how small or how shallow you should always make the area safe for children.
