Gardening for wildlife

robins

Jon Hawkins - Surrey Hills Photography

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Gardening for wildlife

Potential for nature

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.  

Request advice or a garden visit

Robin and blue tit on bird feeder

Robin and blue tit © Nicholas Watts

Wildlife gardening survey

How wildlife friendly is your garden?

Take the survey
A person adding pebbles to the edge of a new garden pond

Photo: Penny Dixie

Garden projects

We have a whole range of fantastic gardening project ideas for you to get stuck into - both big and small. Whether you want to revamp your planting, dig a wildlife pond, or simply clean out your bird feeders, we have lots of tips and tricks to help you! 

Find out more
Growing microgreens at home

Coronation Gardens

Feed yourself and nature.

Discover out more

Let's 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!

Wild About Gardens

People gardening together

Join the Wilder Gardening Group

The Wilder Gardening Group supports anyone enjoying wildlife gardening or looking to learn more. 

Get involved

Red Admiral butterfly (Vanessa atalanta) feeding on Ivy flowers (Hedera helix), Wiltshire garden, UK, April. - Nick Upton/2020VISION

Somerset's Wilder Open Gardens

Find out how to open your own garden or volunteer to help out in 2024.

Find out more
Community garden

Katrina Martin/2020VISION

Join a Community Garden

Check our map to find a Wilder Community Garden near you. 

Join in

Take action for wildlife

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. 

Land management advice

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. 

Explore land management advice and resources

Wilder Allotments

There are lots of actions you can take to manage your allotment plot in a way which minimises harmful environmental impacts and creates an inviting space for wildlife. 

You can also work together with other plot holders to obtain and award for your entire society! To obtain an award your allotment society you will need:

1. 25% of allotment plots have obtained a plot award.
2. AND your allotment society are making efforts to welcome wildlife. For example by encouraging environmental friendly practices in official guidance and dedicating areas to wildlife.
3. Get in touch and tell us about it! teamwilder@somersetwildlife.org

Apply for your plot award

Wilder Churches

Find example management plans for burial grounds, plus heaps of other resources, and sign up for Wilder Churches meet-ups.

Find out more

Wilder Schools

For tips and practical advice on transforming school grounds into a wildlife haven that supports curriculum learning, check out our Schools Packs and awards.

Find out more

Coal Tit (c) Bob Coyle

Coal Tit (c) Bob Coyle

Wildlife

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?

How to identify common garden birds
Close up photo of a barn owl

Photo: Andy Hankinson

Membership

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.

Find out more about membership

  

 

Wild about social media

Join the conversation and keep up to date with the latest wildlife news