Read on for our guide creating an oasis for wildlife in your own back yard.
Attracting wildlife with the right kind of plants
Even if you live in the middle of a busy city, there are ways you can attract wildlife to your outdoor space. Every garden can provide a haven for wildlife, no matter what its size. A good starting point is to ensure that the existing plants and trees you've already got in your garden are looked after. Don't be tempted to get rid of them as they will already be established and providing shelter for animals and birds.
Trees are fantastic at attracting wildlife and they will attract a wide range of birds and mammals. Consider growing or cultivating evergreens such as Holly or Ewe as these will provide lots of shelter in winter and autumn. Also check out deciduous trees like Rowan because the spring flowers and autumn berries will be very attractive to wildlife.
Flowers high in pollen and nectar produce seeds and fruit which are all great for wildlife. Trees and plants that produce nectar, seeds or berries are a great source of food for bees, moths, butterflies and birds. Therefore, to attract wildlife, consider shrubs and climbers such as Elder which produces early flowers and fruit in summer, Honeysuckle and Bramble, or Ivy which flowers late in the season, so is also good.
Any colourful plants or flowers such as Bluebells, Violets or Foxgloves will attract wildlife and provide a great source of nectar. White Champion produces evening nectar in the summer - a great source of food for moths which are attracted by scent and white flowers. If you are successful in attracting moths, these will in turn attract bats. They will also love Scented Tobacco Plants and Honeysuckle which create a lovely sweet scent while you're sat outside.
Bird tables and bird feeders
Bird tables and bird feeders are also a great way to bring avian life into your garden. Choose a good, sturdy wooden bird table and set it up near a window so that you can sit and watch the action from your house. As always, it's important to protect the wood so that it stays looking good and doesn't rot. Use an eco wood preserver, such as Ronseal Decorative Eco Wood Preserver, and you can be kind to the environment too.
Make sure you fasten the table down to the ground sufficiently, as you don't want it blowing over in strong winds. And if you're using bird feeders, then make sure these are attached with wire, as grey squirrels can gnaw their way through cheap feeders really quickly. If you're really pushed for space, or just have a small balcony or window box, then you can suspend a bird feeder outside your window, and still attract the birds.
There's a whole variety of different bird feeds that you can use in feeders, with different foods attracting different types of birds. Generally speaking, you can't go wrong with a pre-made bird food mix which you can get from most garden centres, while peanuts, black sunflower seeds or specialist bird cake bars are also good options. If in doubt, just check with your local garden centre.
Bird and Bat Boxes
Bird houses are a great way to watch birds raise their families. In ten years' time, you could have created a home to hundreds of baby blue tits! The hole in the box will attract different types of bird; for blue tits, coal tits or marsh tits, for example, a small hole of around 25mm across is needed, while a slightly bigger hole is needed for great tits, sparrows and nuthatches while robins, wrens and pied wagtails prefer an open fronted box.
Put the box up at least a couple of meters above the ground to ensure the birds are safe from predators such as cats or foxes, and ensure it is sheltered from the wind, rain and strong sunlight. It's also best to put the box up outside of breeding season, between August and February. Finally, always protect the box with a good quality product or consider using a natural woodstain to make it even more attractive, such as Ronseal's Woodland Trust Colours, a range of coloured wood stains inspired by UK woodland.
And if you're a bit more daring, why not put up bat boxes? While these mammals have got a bit of a threatening reputation, this is really not the case. They are in fact, attractive, small and furry, and it is fascinating at dusk to see them flying around. Place the boxes high up, in a sheltered location on a tree or wall, where it won't be disturbed.
Interesting insects
It is pretty easy to attract a range of interesting insects to your back yard, and there are certain steps you can take to help this to happen. Don't go overboard on the autumn tidy up - leave twigs and leaves as shelter! Create your own 'mini nature reserve', by allowing a long area of grass to grow as an insect habitat. This could also yield a variety of wild flowers. Building mini 'habitat piles' from woody materials is also a good way to attract them, as is having a compost heap and growing a range of long season flowers.Get kids involved
Finally, getting your kids involved with the wildlife in your garden is always fun, and is a great way to educate them about the importance of being environmentally aware and knowing what's on their doorstep. Check out the Woodland Trust's nature detectives CLUB at www.naturedetectives.org.uk/club which is a great online resource giving loads of information about the different kinds of wildlife in your garden, along with loads of fun games, competitions and activities to do. Particularly useful during the Easter and Summer holidays!For more information visit www.ronseal.co.uk or www.WoodlandTrust.org.uk/Ronseal.
