Encouraging wildlife to live and feed in your garden is great natural pest control, and is increasingly important as natural habitats are lost in the wild. Follow our guide to making a haven for birds and insects.
What to do
Choose plants attractive to birds and insects eg berry bearing shrubs like cotoneaster in winter, and flat headed plants like yarrow in summer.
Let some plants like sunflowers and goldenrod go to seed to provide winter food for seed eating birds
Plant some native species with single flowers to attract bees, like mallow, foxgloves and poppies.
Feed birds in winter at bird feeders or tables.
Pile some logs in an undisturbed corner to provide homes for insects and even a hedgehog or toad - both love to eat slugs and snails.
Provide water, even a simple bowl to allow birds and animals to drink and dragonflies to breed.
Time needed
Half a day a month to refill bird feeders and add new wildlife features to the garden.
