Creating a wildlife-friendly garden is not only rewarding for the critters and creatures of nature, but it can also be a natural outdoor safe space for you to relax and unwind.
And of course, the human race need insects to live, it's that simple. It all has to do with the circle of life; without insects, small animals would have no food and so fourth. Think of them as the bottom of the planets food chain.
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If you're looking for ways to make your garden bird, bee and bug friendly, here are some idea's to get you started:
Create a bird box
Placing a bird box out your back garden is a beautiful way of offering shelter, a place to rest and somewhere for common garden birds to raise their young. Every garden should have at least one wooden bird box hanging safely from a tree away from any predators like cats and dogs with some food and water nearby.
Make a wildlife pond
While deep ponds can be a hazard for young children, a small garden pond or water feature can be inviting for creatures such as frogs to hang out and a source of fresh unchlorinated water. If neither are suitable bury a shallow bucket in your garden to collect rainwater and make sure there are some branches or stones in there so they can get in and out.
Plant plenty of flowers
Growing pollen and nectar-rich plants are one of the key ways to encourage bees into your garden, but you must plant the right ones. Birds and bees are essential in plant production through their services as pollinators and seed dispersers. Consider planting purple flowers such as lavender and alliums as they can see it more clearly than any other colour. Or attract them with other favourites like honeysuckles, snapdragons, forget-me-nots, daffodil and ivy.
Build an insect hotel
Also known as a bug hotel, it is a humanmade structure usually made from wood to provide shelter for our helpful little creatures that are vital for our existence. Bug hotels are best made with pallets of woods, pip cleaners, bricks, twigs and all sorts of building materials with lots of nooks and crannies for ladybirds, beetles, bee's, spiders, woodlice and millipedes to burrow in.
Make some bird food
Making bird food is simple and easy to do, and a tremendous feel-good activity that the kids will enjoy. Simple mix bird sear with gelatine and mould them into whatever shape you like leaving them to set before placing them near your bird box to encourage birds such as robins, tits and sparrows to explore your garden.
Calm down on weeding
Believe it or not, weeds are some of the best plants for pollinators such as daisies and buttercups. And remember, bugs of all kinds like to hide out under dead plants so by removing weeds and dried leaves, you are essentially destroying their little habitat.
Use a compost bin
It might take a few months, even a year in some cases but using a compost bin allows you to feed your soil for free keeping your plants healthy. Composting enriches your soil by helping it to retain moisture, reduces the need for chemicals and encourages and best of all, it saves you money. When you compost, you are saving waste from going to landfill.
