How To Create a Wildlife Friendly Garden

One of the greatest pleasures in gardening is watching life flourish all around you: not just in terms of the plants you grow, but also the non-human visitors to your garden. A biodiverse garden isn't just a joy to spend time in, it's also more resilient, productive, and balanced.

Encouraging biodiversity doesn’t necessarily mean letting things grow wild (unless that’s your goal, of course), but rather working with nature to create a space that supports many forms of life. And the good news is that even small changes can make a big difference.

Unfortunately, modern and misguided practices have led to a stripping away of all kinds of wildlife habitat around the country. Whether it's trees being cut down and replaced by sitka plantings, widespread clearing of hedges (especially during nesting season) or the use of chemicals and pesticides in private gardens - all too often the needs of human convenience win out over wildlife and nature.

Ultimately though this can only harm both humans and animals. An ecosystem that has been steadily stripped of suitable habitat is one that is less healthy and balanced. The beauty of biodiversity is that nature has a way of balancing itself. 'Pest' attacks often decrease, as natural predators keep populations of troublesome insects in check. 

How To Encourage Biodiversity in Your Garden
In a perfect world we could all set up a mini wildlife sanctuary in our back garden, but there is of course a balance to be struck. The trick is to gently reintroduce elements that help wildlife thrive, while still keeping the garden a place you enjoy and can grow crops productively in.

Garden Layout
Start by thinking about your garden layout. A biodiverse garden is rarely uniform. Trees and hedging provide nesting spaces, shelter or food, while borders of herbaceous plants or wildflower patches can support pollinators and beneficial insects. 

A lot can depend on space constraints, but even with a small patio garden you can achieve a lot - for example by trailing climbing plants or growing nectar-rich flowers in pots.

Garden Ponds
Few garden additions can have such a magnetic effect on wildlife as a pond. The good news is that it doesn't have to be a large one. A small pond or even a shallow dish tucked into a flowerbed can attract frogs, birds, and insects.

Similarly a pond doesn’t have to be fancy, but it is important to ensure there is some kind of entry or exit ramp, whether in the form of rocks, a timber planks or a sloping area at the edge of the pond. This will ensure that wildlife (or even pets) don't get trapped in the pond with no way to escape. Be aware also that a fish pond is not so suitable for wildlife, as the fish will dominate it.

Once a pond has been established, you can expect a diversity of life to populate or visit it, including hedgehogs, newts (possibly!), dragonflies, damselflies and hoverflies.

Flowers for all Seasons
Opting for a mix of native species and pollinator-friendly blooms ensures a steady supply of nectar, seeds, and shelter. Aim to have something flowering throughout the growing season: early snowdrops and crocuses help emerging bees, while late-season asters and sedums feed the final flurry before winter sets in.

Avoid mowing your lawn in spring as much as possible; this allows wildflowers to grow naturally and provide hungry early pollinators with a food source.

Wildflower areas can be introduced in small patches, containers or borders; you don't need a meadow to make an impact (and wildflower meadows are generally more high maintenance anyway). Even a scruffy patch of dandelions and clover can serve as a feast for insects.

Hedging
Planting bare root hedging to create a natural garden boundary can do wonders for wildlife. Once established, hedging offers food, shelter and nesting habitat - in addition to its value in terms of privacy and wind protection.

A ‘mixed hedge’ of native species is ideal, and can lead to year-round habitat, colour and interest. Hedgerow species that are known for their wildlife value include hawthorn, hornbeam, blackthorn, hazel, and holly.

Hawthorn for example is said to support over 150 different species of insect; this includes its leaves as well as nectar-rich flowers in late spring. It is a food plant for various moth caterpillars, while red berries (known as ‘haws’) provide food for birds or small mammals into the winter months.

Hedges can also act as wildlife corridors or ‘pathways’ for creatures like bats to navigate the landscape.

Bird Feeders & Nest Boxes
Our gardens can play a crucial role when it comes to supporting birds, as much of their natural wild habitats continue to decline. A thoughtfully managed garden can provide food, shelter, nesting spaces and drinking or bathing spots.

Hanging bird feeders are of course a simple and popular garden addition, and particularly important in winter when other food sources can dry up. They are also a great way to observe birds from a safe, unobtrusive distance.

Make sure that feeders are placed in an area that doesn’t leave them vulnerable to cats or other predators, such as having it too close to nearby ledges or branches. You can also get ‘squirrel proof’ feeders with wire cages designed to exclude squirrels and larger birds (who can bully smaller ones).

Insects or caterpillars are an important protein source for baby chicks, and you can encourage them by setting aside a small area of the garden for a patch of nettles, uncut grass or wildflowers.

Some wild birds are known to nest in holes in trees, cliffs or in old buildings. Bird nesting boxes - made from timber with suitable interior dimensions - can act as a vital alternative to these nooks and crannies, which have become scarcer due to tree felling, renovations and other factors.

You could take your bird support to the next level by opting for a conservation grade nesting box, such as those made by Schwegler. These are made from a porous and breathable mix of wood fibres, clay and concrete (‘woodcrete’), which results in an ideal nesting environment with stable temperatures.

Schwegler’s nest boxes have different designs for different species, including a number that are in decline or are ‘species of concern’. Open-fronted nest boxes, for example, will attract Pied Wagtails and Spotted Flycatchers, the latter of which is in long-term decline in Ireland.

Built-in nest boxes or ‘bricks’ have also been designed for species such as swifts, who prefer to build their nests in cavities within building facades or under eaves.

Whatever nest box you go for (and you can DIY your own timber version), make sure to keep the box at a distance from any bird feeding area, as having them too close together can cause disruption and discourage nesting.

Nest boxes should also be cleaned out once a year to prevent spread of disease - this is best done at a time when you will not be disturbing the residents. Avoid using chemical cleaning products.

Fallen Leaves and Habitat
Similarly, leaving fallen leaves to break down naturally (rather than sweeping them away) can provide habitat for beetles, hedgehogs or overwintering creatures. You can also set up a 'leaf mould' cage. Leaf mould is a crumbly, black organic material that results from the gradual breaking down of leaves; it is an excellent soil improver.

Try also to go easy on the tidying. While it’s tempting to clear everything away for the sake of neatness or aesthetics (or to avoid creating a place for slugs to hide!), setting aside a small area of your garden for debris such as logs, dead plant stems, twigs etc will provide some shelter and hiding places for insects and small mammals.

Access for Wildlife
While birds and insects can move around freely, other wildlife need ways to access gardens as they roam around in search of food, shelter and habitat. Natural hedging is friendlier than fencing in this respect, but fences can be modified to create small access points (much like a 'cat flap' for the garden).

A good example of this is the 'hedgehog highway', which is a very small gap provided at the bottom of a garden fence, allowing hedgehogs to get in and out. These often feature colourful signage and decoration to highlight what their purpose is (in case the neighbours are wondering).

These 'wildlife corridors' serve a vital purpose. In the case of hedgehogs, a frightening number of them are killed by cars on the roads, as they are forced into completely unsuitable environments as they attempt to get around.