Small things you can do to help wildlife

atural wildlife habitats are dwindling. Traditional hedgerows and meadows are disappearing, with neat looking verges beside roads the norm, taking over many habitats. Its therefore very important to encourage wildlife around your home, no matter what outdoor space you have - from just a windowsill to a big garden. All of the suggestions can be adapted to your space and the look you want to create in your garden, and projects encouraging wildlife is also something that would be great fun for kids to get involved in.

The best place to look for full guidelines on how to implement these projects is by having a look through the Wildlife Trust Action page. They have loads of interesting project ideas, so if you're interested it is definitely worth a look. A brief overview of five ideas are listed below.

Ideas from the Wildlife Trust for a garden layout that encourages insects

1. Growing a wild patch

Areas of wildflowers can be great for all sorts of wildlife. You can do this in a flowerpot, or section off a part of your garden for a larger area, if you're able. Encouraging native species of wildflowers is important, as it is one of the rarest habitats in normal gardens.  You can either let your grass grow wild and see what comes, or start from scratch and sew a wildflower mix.  Some wildflowers even benefit from poor soil, so don't worry too much if your soil isn't great.  This can attract loads of wildlife, from goldfinches to peacock butterflies.  More information can be found here.

2. Feeding birds

Chaffinches on a feeder. Credit: SoopySue / iStock.com

High energy foods such as sunflower seeds or fat balls are great for encouraging birds into your garden. Or if you don't have a garden, there are bird feeders that attach to windows. There are some really great craft ideas out there for making your own bird feeders, including from old plastic bottles. This will help to replace natural foods lost from the country. To supplement this, something from them to drink from and wash in is also beneficial; this doesn't have to be a specific bird bath, it can be an upturned bin lid or some kind of container. See more details here.

3. Making a hedgehog house

Making a hedgehog house. Image credit: Wildlife Trust.

These can be made from many things such as wine crates, plastic boxes, or even made from scratch. Sadly the hedgehog population is declining, and hedgehogs are increasingly reliant on gardens in urban settings. In short, you'll need to cut a hole in your container, and fashion a tunnel entrance in, one option is from a section of pipe. Place this somewhere shady and out of the wind, and fill it with newspaper and straw.  You could also place some cat biscuits inside for the hedgehogs.  Cover this with a plastic sheet, and pack soil and leaves around the outside, making sure the entrance remains uncovered.  More detailed instructions can be found on the Wildlife Trust and RSPB websites, or you can search Google.

4. Make a log pile

This can be in an out of the way corner, and can be perfect for burrowing animals and decomposers such as woodlice. Toads and centipedes can also find their homes here. The insect habitat will encourage other wildlife to your garden, such as hedgehogs and birds, which will eat the insects. The Wildlife Trust has more information on log shelters.

5. Composting

Image credit: Compost Revolution.

Home composting is a way to get a use out of your kitchen and garden waste, plus it reduces the need for store bought peat based composts. Reducing the usage of peat helps reduce the destruction of wetland habitats. The compost produced can also be used as an excellent soil improver.  I mentioned in a previous post that the Getcomposting website had cheaper bins available if your local council had teamed up with them, so this is a great place to get started.  The RHS website is a great resource for beginner composters.

So there you have it, 5 ideas for making your garden more wildlife friendly. Do check out the Wildlife Trust website for loads more information.