GARDENING LOVER

Wildlife Gardening

A wildlife garden (or wild garden) is an environment created by a gardener that serves as a sustainable haven for surrounding wildlife. Wildlife gardens contain a variety of habitats that cater to native and local plants, birds, amphibians, reptiles, insects, mammals and so on.

Establishing a garden that emulates the environment before the residence was built and/or renders the garden similar to intact wild areas nearby (rewilding) will allow natural systems to interact and establish an equilibrium, ultimately minimizing the need for gardener maintenance and intervention. Wildlife gardens can also play an essential role in biological pest control, and also promote biodiversity, native plantings, and generally benefit the wider environment.

There's an abundance of beautiful blooms you can plant in your garden to help your pollinators, and your plants. Below I've listed my five favourites 🐝

Lungwort (Pulmonaria)
A perennial flowering in early-spring. A great source of nectar for hungry queen bumblebees.
Lavender (Lavendar x intermedia)
Flowers spring and summer, providing a long supply of nectar.
Bush Vetch (Vicia Sepium)
A climbing perennial and member of the pea family. A favourite of the carder bee.
Viper's Bugloss (Echium Vulgare)
A beautiful biennial wild flower, flowering at the height of summer and loved by all bees.
Marjoram (Origanum Vulgare)
An easy to grow perennial and good for cooking too.

Wildlife-friendly gardening is about making a haven for you, as well as for wildlife. By gardening sympathetically for wildlife, you’ll be rewarded by a truly natural outdoor space, where you can get in touch with the plants, animals and birds that make their home there. Learn more on the Wildlife Trusts website, including how to build a pond, how to grow a wildlife patch, and how to make a bee hotel.