A fieldfare (Turdus pilaris)
Image: Margaret Holland
Wilder Gardening
Be part of Team Wilder, bringing about the change nature needs together.
Spring is here
With the start of spring, you'll see returning migratory birds, emerging insects, hibernating mammals becoming active, and early amphibian breeding!
Warmer days mean we can start sowing seed to increase the numbers of pollinator friendly plants in our gardens. Choose annuals with simple, open flowers like poppies, borage and Coreopsis. Fast-growing perennials such as chives, beautiful blue cornflowers, elegant coneflowers and colourful yarrows can also be sown in March. Spread the love and share any excess seedlings with friends and neighbours.
Look out for small tortoiseshell and brimstone butterflies emerging from hibernation this month. These and other hungry pollinators are desperate for an energy boost. Early spring is a tough time for pollinators, so plants flowering now are particularly valuable. Lungwort, squill and native primroses are all good, but some of the best sources of nectar are dandelions. Do some ‘mini’ rewilding; let the dandelions bloom and see what insects they attract.
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!
Related news and blogs
New, exciting initiative launches to help spread the word about wildlife-friendly gardening
Somerset Wildlife Trust announces a new alternative to a ‘coffee morning fundraiser’ that encourages nature lovers to share their top…
Wildlife gardening myth buster
As gardeners, we like to think we are close to the land and doing our bit for the environment. Unfortunately the modern horticultural…
Wild about Gardens campaign asks us all to become hoverfly heroes
Humble hoverfly needs our help, say Royal Horticultural Society and The Wildlife Trusts
Wild about social media
Join the conversation and keep up to date with the latest wildlife news
