Tom Marshall
Wildlife gardening
Gardening for wildlife
With an estimated 124,500 gardens in Somerset, covering 19 square kilometres of the county, these spaces have huge potential for nature. If we all gave a little bit more space for wildlife within our gardens, just imagine how much habitat we would create overall for nature! Gardens can also help us buffer the impacts of surface flooding, pollution run off, create cooler climates around our homes and are fantastic for our health and well being.
We're on a mission to help everyone in Somerset who looks after a garden to give more space to wildlife. Here you'll find tips, projects and downloads, or you can request personal advice from our team of Wilder Gardening Champions who are part of the Wilder Gardening Group.
Garden bumblebee by Chris Gomersall/2020VISION
Lets invite wildlife back!
Find out more about the Wild About Gardens project, created to celebrate wildlife gardening and to encourage people to use their gardens to take action to help support nature. This year we’re going wild about swifts, swallows and martins!
Snail on gardening gloves - Tom Marshall
Join the Wilder Gardening Group
The Wilder Gardening Group supports anyone enjoying wildlife gardening or looking to learn more.
Brockwell Park Community Greenhouses, South London - Paul Harris/2020VISION
Somerset's Wilder Open Gardens
Visit our beautiful wildlife gardens opening this year in aid of Somerset Wildlife Trust, find out how to open your own garden or volunteer to help out.
Jon Hawkins - Surrey Hills Photography
Find more ways to take action for the wildlife in your garden by downloading our guides.
The Wilder Gardening Group has created the following advice sheets and species lists for plants that thrive in Somerset and support a variety of wildlife.
Looking for guidance on managing a larger area of land or community project? We've got lots of habitat management, planning and community resources in our Team Wilder resource library.
Chaffinch - Sam Hockaday
Support Somerset Wildlife Trust with Vine House Farm bird food
Vine House Farm Bird Foods give 4% of every purchase in your area to Somerset Wildlife Trust. If you're a new customer, Vine House Farm Bird Foods will also give an extra £10 to the Trust!
Neil Aldridge
Who has been visiting?
Hanging a bird feeder in your garden all year round can be a great way of helping out our feathered friends. But do you know which species are visiting your garden?
Red-tailed bumblebee on bird's foot trefoil - Jon Hawkins - Surrey Hills Photography
Want to hear more from Somerset Wildlife Trust?
As a member, as well as protecting wildlife, you’ll receive a fantastic membership pack including a guide to our nature reserves, our events guide and our Somerset Wildlife magazine.