How to attract new wildlife and create biodiversity in your garden.

Creating a biodiverse garden.

Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth, in all its forms and all its interactions, the term being coined in 1985 – a contraction of “biological diversity”. So how can you bring this into your own space? Well, to start with, having lots of different species of plants helps to attract wildlife to your garden, create a new healthy habitat in your community, and give a home to lots of animals from birds to insects.

But biodiversity is not only important for plants and animals, but for people too. After all, studies show spending at least a few hours in nature a week is one of the best ways to improve your happiness and health!

So, what are you waiting for? Check out our tips on creating a biodiverse garden!

Mix it up

Think of a wildlife habitat such as woodland. Usually, you can find a mixture of trees, grass and flowers, shade, and sunny spots. You guessed it, diversity is key to creating a biodiverse haven!

When choosing plants for your garden be sure to mix long grass, trees, and shrubs with flowers. By choosing fragrant flowers can help to attract bees and butterflies. Click here for more information on choosing the best flowers for butterflies.

Top tip: Bees love purple, yellow, and blue flowers and butterflies follow smell over sight!

Create new homes

From bug boxes to bee hotels and bird boxes. Adding these ready-made homes helps attract birds and pollinators to come back year after year. That means baby birds! It is also a fun project to take on with the grandchildren.

Attract birds with a feeder of peanuts, fat balls, and sunflower seeds especially during those cold winter months. Just be sure to make any feeding zones out of reach for cats! You can also plant native trees for nesting and protection.

Become an organic gardener

Say goodbye to harsh chemicals and let the wildlife do the pest control! Pesticides are not only harmful to your potential wildlife, but they also take lots of energy to produce, it’s also best to avoid peat-based composts and keep a lookout for wood furniture that’s been sustainably sourced.

Start composting

To naturally recycle nutrients and to create the perfect nutrient-rich soil, make your own compost! Having a compost heap in your back garden can also provide a home for other creatures too such as worms and frogs. Be careful not to attract rats by only adding raw food!

Just add water

Anything from a birdbath to a small pond can boost your garden’s wildlife factor. Spaces with running water are great for attracting aquatic wildlife. Ensure your space isn’t too deep and has a sloped side to be frog-friendly. Don’t be tempted to add lots of fish – these often eat any naturally occurring wildlife!

Tell us about your garden, we would love to hear your tips and tricks!

To find out more about Guild Living’s commitments to biodiversity click here.