7 Tips for Attracting Nature to Your Garden

A garden is a place for relaxation, entertaining, fun and possibly even a place to grow food and vegetables, but it also gives us the opportunity to enjoy the beauty and excitement of nature. Protecting our natural wildlife is a big priority for lots of organisations, but what can individuals do if they want to help? Luckily, there are plenty of ways to attract nature into your garden and provide a haven for our wonderful bugs, birds, and mammals in which to thrive. If you are hoping to encourage more wildlife into your garden this year, here are seven tips to get you started. 

1. Plant trees

Planting a single tree in your garden will attract birds and insects and will also provide squirrels and birds with a nesting place. The best to choose from are those native to your area. This could include silver birch, yew, crab apple, alder, beech, ash, elm or conifers. If you would like to attract bats, a willow tree provides a great nesting place.



2. Grow a hedge or foliage

Hedges are ideal as nesting places for small mammals like mice and hedgehogs as well as birds and will also provide a useful shelter for your garden. You can choose from elder, hawthorn, privet, hazel, buckthorn, blackthorn or even creepers and climbers like honeysuckle and clematis.

3. Plant wildflowers

There are plenty of wildflowers to choose from, but wildflowers like bluebells, crocus, cornflowers and foxgloves are fantastic at attracting bees, while species which have been over-bred tend not to yield much nectar. If you would like to see butterflies, plant some buddleia.



4. Add a pond or water feature

For those who have the space for a pond or water feature, you can diversify your wildlife considerably by providing fish, frogs and insects like dragonflies with a pond. You can also grow stunning water plants like water lilies. You should consult with a professional when designing and creating your pond to ensure it has all the necessary elements like oase Aquamax pond filter pumps.



5. Put up nesting boxes

To give birds and bats a place to breed, you can put up nesting boxes in your garden where they are relatively sheltered. You can also buy cameras to put inside the boxes, so you can observe what’s happening inside.






6. Create a wilderness area

If you can, leave an area of the garden relatively untouched as a wilderness for small mammals like moles, gophers, and lizards. Wood will also entice grubs and beetles which are the perfect food source for foragers.



7. Put out a bird feeder and/or bath

A bird feeder with fat balls, seeds, and nuts, will attract birds and squirrels, but you may want to get a squirrel proofed bird feeder to ensure that they don’t take all the food before the birds can. A birdbath will give birds a place to wash and drink and, if you keep it defrosted in winter, will give them a much-needed source of water.