The following contribution is from another author.
Having outdoor space at your property brings endless benefits. When you have a garden of your own, it’s possible to enjoy the stress-relieving benefits of time spent in the fresh air, stay active by playing with your kids, and even grow your own food. This haven of outdoor space can enrich your life in so many ways, but it can also provide big benefits for wildlife.
Transforming your garden into a nature-friendly space is the ideal way to make it a safe haven for all kinds of native wildlife. With green spaces increasingly being built upon, so many native wildlife species are losing their habitats and their futures put at risk. Playing a role in protecting wildlife is something that everyone can do. Here are some of the ways you can make your garden a nature-friendly space:
Add Nest Boxes
If you want to make your property a safe haven for wildlife, installing nest boxes is an ideal way to do this. Nest boxes provide a safe shelter for wildlife when they truly need it and are an excellent way to encourage a wider variety of species into your garden. If you notice a particular bird species making its way into your garden frequently, you may wish to add a nest box designed specifically for that species, for example, a wren next box, or woodpecker nest box.
Allow Growth
Many modern gardens are designed for ease of maintenance with a few container plants and artificial grass. However, getting back to nature and allowing a bit of natural growth in your garden provides the perfect habitat for wildlife. This doesn’t mean you need to let your garden grow rapidly out of control and into a jungle. Instead, it simply means that you should cut your lawn a little less often and take a less militant approach to pulling up ‘weeds’ such as buttercups and dandelions.
Letting nature have some breathing space provides the ideal opportunity for bees and butterflies to collect pollen and other wildlife to feed and reproduce in a safe habitat.
Choose the Right Plants
Allowing flowers such as buttercups and dandelions to bloom on your lawn and in your soil can certainly help to encourage more wildlife into your garden. However, you can go a step further than this by looking for plants that specifically attract wildlife.
English lavender and buddleia are ideal for attracting bees and butterflies. These colourful purple plants are perfect for brightening up your backyard, and providing a much-needed haven for wildlife at the same time.
Planting a hedge, such as a hawthorn, will provide much needed shelter and food for wildlife throughout the year. Smaller mammals, such as hedgehogs also benefit from garden hedges, as they provide them with a safe corridor to move around and in out of your backyard without being exposed.
Transforming your garden into a nature-friendly space provides a whole new way to enjoy time spent outside in your garden, while playing a role in protecting the precious wildlife.
