A fieldfare (Turdus pilaris)
Image: Margaret Holland
Wilder Gardening
Be part of Team Wilder, bringing about the change nature needs together.
Nurturing nature
Winter is a critical time for wildlife gardening as it provides an opportunity to support various species during the colder months.
With temperatures dropping and the weather getting wetter, gardening may be the last thing on your mind in winter. However, if you want your patch to support wildlife for years to come, now’s the time to start! The colder months offer the perfect conditions for planting shrubs and trees.
Woody shrubs, climbers and trees provide food for all kinds of wildlife; birds, insects and small mammals will feast on the berries, fruits, seeds, nuts and nectar-rich flowers that they offer throughout the year. In addition, they provide shelter, giving species space to rest, nest and breed.
If you’re looking to make smaller changes, less is more in winter. Whilst it may be tempting to tidy, wildlife needs a slightly messier garden to thrive. Small mammals, such as hedgehogs, will shelter from the cold under a warm blanket of leaf litter and insects, such as the patchwork lead-cutter bee, will lay eggs in hollow plant stems. Nature makes the most of the nooks and crannies on offer, so try to avoid the following if you can: deadheading plants, clearing leaf litter and long grasses, or removing log piles.
Photo: Penny Dixie
Garden projects, big and small
We have a whole range of fantastic gardening project ideas for you to get stuck into - both big and small.
Image: Mark Hamblin/2020VISION
Small tortoiseshell (Aglaise urtica) feeding on garden flowers, UK
How wildlife friendly is your garden?
Wildlife Gardening Awards: In order to gain your award plaque, you need to demonstrate you are making an effort to welcome wildlife in different ways.
Image: Vaughn Matthews
Wilder Open Gardens
No matter what size of outdoor space, from tiny gardens and window boxes to large estates and everything in between, take part our wilder alternative to a coffee morning fundraiser, whilst spreading the word about gardening for wildlife.
Resources
Thank you for gardening for wildlife, every positive action you take makes a big difference. With your help, we can put nature into recovery, create more space for wildlife to thrive, and reduce the pressure on the environment. This has to be a joint effort. We all have different skills, knowledge, and experience to offer. And we’ve got resources and advice to help get you started...
Team Wilder
Celebrate wildlife gardening and use your garden to take action to help support nature. Many of our common garden visitors – including hedgehogs, house sparrows and starlings – are increasingly under threat. But together we can make a difference. Find out how our green spaces can provide for wildlife.
Wilder Allotment Awards: Although allotments are mainly used for growing food, by adding in wildlife friendly plants you can create a mini-ecosystem that’s good for you and good for wildlife. Demonstrate you are making an effort to welcome wildlife in different ways and practicing environmentally friendly actions and apply for your plaque today!
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