How to attract wildlife in your garden

With the first signs of spring in the air (at last!), you may be thinking about giving your garden a spruce ahead of the warmer weather. But what if your efforts could also make your outdoor space a haven for wildlife?

The great news is that you don’t need a big garden to create a space where wildlife can thrive. Weekend projects and tweaks to your garden maintenance practices can still make a big impact for local fauna, and be a great way to spark little ones’ interest in the natural world, too.

Here are our top 10 ways to attract birds, squirrels, hedgehogs and more to your garden!

Jump to:

• Create a bird-friendly environment 
• Incorporate water features
• Embrace organic gardening
• Design wildflower meadows
• Build insect hotels 
• Install butterfly habitats
• Provide hedgehog homes
• Create habitat corridors
• Incorporate natural gardening elements 
• Educate yourself and others 

Create a bird-friendly environment 

Types of bird feeder

Did you know that you can choose different types of bird feeder to attract specific types of birds?

Classic cylindrical, hanging bird feeders are best for nuts and other nibbles, and attract birds that cling like woodpeckers and tits. You can also buy suet feeders, which are popular with starlings, and seed feeders to help keep birds fed through the winter months.

The only limit to how many bird feeders you can have is available space, so if you can, provide more than one type to diversify the birds you’ll be able to spot in your garden.

Make the most of your bird feeders

Place your bird feeder(s) in a sheltered area of the garden, preferably away from consistent sources of movement or noise, to create a safe space for birds to visit.

Clean your feeders once a week, and avoid flat feeding surfaces, to keep the bird feeders hygienic and prevent the spread of diseases.

The RSPB’s comprehensive bird feeder buying guide has lots more information on choosing a bird feeder, what to put in them, and how to keep predators like grey squirrels and cats away.

Incorporate water features

Create a natural pond

Natural ponds are ones which rely on nature to maintain their balance, rather than chemicals, pumps and/or filters. They’re great for encouraging natural biodiversity, and the lack of chemicals mean they’re safe for the surrounding environment, too.

You don’t need acres of space or DIY expertise to build a pond that wildlife will love – you can check out the RHS’ guide to building a container pond to create one in a large flower pot, half barrel or even a reclaimed sink. Include ramps with your natural pond to allow wildlife like frogs to get in and out, and add mini pond plants around the edge to provide cover and create a diverse mini ecosystem.

Maintaining your water features

It’s important to keep your pond topped up with water, especially during hot weather. Use rainwater if possible; tap water should be a last resort.

Check regularly for dead or fading leaves so they don’t decompose in the water, and monitor your pond for excessive plant growth or aquatic weeds which will need to be removed. 

Embrace organic gardening 

Benefits of chemical-free practices 

Choosing to garden without chemical pesticides and fertilisers can make a real difference to the health of your outdoor space. Chemicals can harm beneficial insects, contaminate soil, and reduce biodiversity over time. By taking a more natural approach, you’re helping to create a safer environment where wildlife can feed, shelter and thrive.

Simple swaps, like using compost to enrich your soil or natural pest deterrents, can help your garden flourish while supporting the wider ecosystem.

Companion planting for biodiversity 

Companion planting is a great way to encourage biodiversity while helping your plants grow strong. By planting certain flowers, herbs and vegetables together, you can naturally deter pests and attract helpful insects like bees and ladybirds.

For example, marigolds can help repel unwanted insects, while herbs like lavender and rosemary are brilliant for attracting pollinators. It’s a simple, effective way to make your garden more wildlife-friendly.

Design wildflower meadows

Selecting native wildflowers

Wildflowers are a fantastic way to bring colour into your garden while supporting local wildlife. Choosing native varieties is especially important, as they’re best suited to the local climate and provide the right food and shelter for pollinators.

Even a small patch of wildflowers can make a big impact, offering nectar for bees and butterflies throughout the warmer months.

Best practices for meadow maintenance

Wildflower areas are relatively low maintenance, but they do benefit from a little care. Try to cut them back once or twice a year, ideally after flowering, to encourage healthy regrowth.

Leaving some areas slightly untidy over winter can also provide shelter for insects and small animals, helping your garden stay full of life all year round.

Build insect hotels

Importance of pollinators

Pollinators like bees, beetles and butterflies play a vital role in keeping our ecosystems healthy. They help plants reproduce, which supports birds and other wildlife.

By creating a welcoming space for pollinators, you’re helping to protect these important species while boosting your garden’s natural balance. 

How to construct an insect hotel

Building an insect hotel is a simple and rewarding project that can make a real difference for pollinators. It’s also a great way to reuse natural or leftover materials you may already have at home.

To get started, you’ll need a sturdy frame, this could be a small wooden box; an old crate, or even a stack of bricks. Once you’ve chosen your base, fill it with a variety of natural materials to create different spaces for insects to nest and shelter.

You could include:

• Hollow bamboo canes or drilled wooden blocks for solitary bees
• Pinecones and twigs for beetles and ladybirds
• Rolled-up cardboard or dry leaves for smaller insects 

Pack the materials in tightly so they don’t fall out but leave enough space for insects to move in and out easily.

When it comes to positioning your insect hotel, choose a dry, sheltered spot that gets some sunshine during the day (a south or southeast-facing wall or fence is ideal). Try to keep it raised slightly off the ground to protect it from damp conditions.

Once in place, your insect hotel won’t need much maintenance. Simply check it occasionally to make sure it’s still secure and dry. Over time, you may start to notice different insects making themselves at home, helping to support a healthy and balanced garden ecosystem.

Install butterfly habitats 

Choosing the right plants for butterflies

Butterflies are drawn to gardens that offer plenty of nectar-rich plants. Flowers like buddleia, verbena and lavender are great choices, providing a reliable food source throughout the season.

Planting a mix of flowers that bloom at different times will help ensure butterflies have something to feed on from spring through to autumn.

Creating a shelter for caterpillars

To truly support butterflies, it’s important to think about their full life cycle. Caterpillars need safe places to grow, so try leaving some areas of your garden a little wilder, with longer grass or leafy plants.

Avoid tidying everything away, as these natural spaces can provide vital shelter for developing insects.

Provide hedgehog homes 

Designing safe hedgehog dens 

Hedgehogs need quiet, sheltered spots where they can rest and hibernate. You can create a simple hedgehog home using a wooden box or by stacking logs and leaves in a quiet corner of your garden.

Make sure the space is dry, protected from strong winds, and away from busy areas.

How to encourage hedgehog visits 

Leaving out shallow dishes of water and creating small gaps in fences can help hedgehogs move freely between gardens. Avoid using slug pellets, as these can be harmful if eaten.

With a little patience, your garden could become a regular stop for these much-loved visitors.

Create habitat corridors 

Importance of connectivity in wildlife movement 

Wildlife doesn’t recognise garden boundaries, so creating connections between green spaces is key. Habitat corridors allow animals to move safely between areas to find food, shelter and mates.

Even small changes can help make your garden part of a bigger, wildlife-friendly network.

Tips for designing wildlife corridors

You could add gaps at the bottom of fences, plant hedges instead of solid barriers, or position features like log piles and shrubs in a way that creates a natural pathway.

These simple adjustments can make it much easier for wildlife to pass through and feel at home. 

Incorporate natural gardening elements 

Utilising leaf litter and dead wood 

It can be tempting to keep your garden looking neat and tidy, but leaving some natural materials behind can be incredibly beneficial. Leaf piles and dead wood provide shelter for insects, frogs and small mammals.

These spaces can quickly become mini habitats, full of life.

Benefits of natural mulches 

Natural mulches, like bark, compost or grass cuttings, help retain moisture in the soil while also improving its quality. They can also provide a habitat for insects and worms, which play an important role in keeping your garden healthy.

It’s a simple way to support wildlife while caring for your plants.

Educate yourself and others

Identifying garden wildlife

Taking the time to notice what’s visiting your garden can be really rewarding. Whether it’s birds, insects or small mammals, learning to identify different species can help you better understand how your garden is supporting local wildlife.

It can also be a great activity to enjoy with children, helping to build curiosity about the natural world.

Engaging the Community in wildlife conservation

Sharing ideas with neighbours or getting involved in local initiatives can help create even bigger wildlife-friendly spaces. When more People take small steps, it can lead to a much wider impact across Communities.
You might even inspire others to make simple changes in their own gardens.