Wildlife gardening

... to attract bees, butterflies and other insects. Try to have something in flower all year round.

They provide good shelter and food for insects, birds and mammals. Choose varieties that produce berries. Hedges are important green corridors linking patches of habitat.

Wildflower meadows are scarce so have a go at creating your own. The easiest option is to leave an area of grass to grow, there may be some wildflowers already there. You can add local, native wildflowers or seeds onto bare patches of soil, but not successfully to a dense grass sward.

They are popular with amphibians, reptiles, birds and insects including dragonflies. Ideally one edge should slope gently for easy access and the other should have tall marginal plants for shelter and emerging dragonflies. Only use native pond plants and don’t stock with fish.

Small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, birds, insects and invertebrates will all benefit and it will give nature’s pest controllers somewhere to hide away from predators.

They will eat some pests while awaiting their turn at the table. Try different types of bird food to attract different species of bird.

... out of untreated wood. Site bat boxes in threes around the tree and bird boxes in sheltered spots facing eastward and out of reach of cats.

Your garden will benefit from it and it makes a fantastic habitat for amphibians and reptiles; your natural garden pest controllers. By using homemade or peat free compost you are safeguarding a decreasing habitat destroyed by peat digging.

They will also kill beneficial insects such as bees, lacewings, hoverflies and ladybirds. Choose natural ways to control slugs and snails. Encourage a natural balance to develop by having a range of habitats attracting a varied wildlife.

Don’t be too tidy. Leave some areas undisturbed. Install a seat so you have somewhere to sit and enjoy your visiting wildlife!