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Creating A Wildlife Friendly Garden

Our gardens are becoming more and more important for wildlife as natural habitats shrink. No matter how small or large your outdoor space is, there are many ways that you can make it welcoming and safe for wildlife. Have a look at some of our tips to help your garden become wildlife-friendly:

Create A Bug Hotel 

You can create a lovely home for insects by creating a bug hotel. It doesn’t need to be elaborate, just something as simple as a few hollow wooden canes will do. Hang it in a secure place like against a tree trunk or tuck it away in a quiet corner. Even a small pie of dead-wood is a great place for all kinds of animals. 

Be Mindful When Using Gardening Tools 

Garden tools
Garden tools

When you are using equipment like lawnmowers and trimmers try to keep your eye out for small creatures that haven’t had time to move. You should also be careful when using the netting as some animals can become tangled in it. 

Create A Place For Hedgehogs

 

Lovely hedgehog or Erinaceus roumanicus on grass
Close up small cute northern white-breasted hedgehog or Erinaceus roumanicus on green grass

Hedgehogs sometimes need a helping hand, so lend yours by building a small hole in your fence for them to pass from garden to garden. Hedgehog numbers have dramatically declined, giving them the opportunity to forage freely will help them when it comes to finding a mate. If you know that you’re garden isn’t safe fr animal like this it might be worth looking for a wildlife removal company

Provide Food And Water For Birds 

Little eurasian nuthatch sitting on wood in pond in autumn
Little eurasian nuthatch, sitta europaea, sitting on wood in pond in autumn. Colorful songbird with black stripe on head looking above on stump. Small animal with feather watching from side.

As well as seed heads from plants in your garden and fruit, supplementary can be seen as a lifeline for birds, especially in the cooler months. Make sure you buy foods that are from quality and reputable manufacturers, create them yourself with research, and store them properly in a clean and dry environment. 

Make sure you clean feeders regularly with disinfectant and hot water in order to stop the infections from spreading. The positioning of the feeders is also very important. Put them in locations where they are less likely to be contaminated by droppings, move them around your garden to stop a build-up of dropping or waste in just one area of your garden. Remember to keep them away from cats if possible. 

Build A Pond 

Frog in a Garden Pond
A frog sitting among lily pads in a garden pond

Gardeners have successfully created an additional two to three million new ponds. Garden ponds are a little haven for a variety of wildlife like newts, frogs, water beetles, dragonflies, and pond skaters. They also provide a great source of water for mammals and birds. Always remember to include a shallow end with a slope so if any mammals like hedgehogs do slip in they are able to get themselves out. 

Don’t Forget To Relax 

Do nothing and relax. Set aside a small area in your garden and allow the grass to grow, nettles to grow, and turn into shelter and food for insects and mammals. 

These five things should help you create a warm and welcoming environment for natural wildlife in your garden. Is there anything that you are doing to help this? Please share some of them in the comments below. 

 

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Karen LeBlanc

Karen LeBlanc is a travel host and writer with a popular travel show, The Design Tourist, and a companion lifestyle blog. As a widely published travel journalist and content creator, Karen is a member of the North American Travel Journalists Association. She also serves as the Design and Travel editor of the national lifestyle magazine, LaPalme. Karen believes that every destination has a story to tell through its local art, architecture, culture, and craft. This immersive creative exploration begins with authentic accommodations where the narrative of place unfolds through art, accessories, accouterments, furnishings, fixtures, and food. 

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