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wiga:wildlife_gardening [2025/12/17 04:30] – created - external edit 127.0.0.1wiga:wildlife_gardening [2026/03/26 18:33] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1
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-Wildlife gardening+This topic is part of [[gt:gardening|Gardening, smallholding & farming]] and [[gt:bushcraft|Bushcraft & Nature]]. 
 +====== Wildlife gardening ======
  
  
-![](https://www.lowimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/wildlife_gardening.jpg)+![](wiki:wildlife_gardening.jpg)
  
 --- ---
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-## What is wildlife gardening?+===== What is wildlife gardening? =====
  
 We should clear something up straight away - gardening for wildlife is not the same as letting your garden go wild! Wildlife gardening is about keeping wildlife always in mind, and using any space you have to create habitat and grow plants that benefit and encourage it. Your garden will still need tending and maintaining, just in a different way. It doesn't have to mean completely redesigning what you already have in an all-or-nothing approach. We should clear something up straight away - gardening for wildlife is not the same as letting your garden go wild! Wildlife gardening is about keeping wildlife always in mind, and using any space you have to create habitat and grow plants that benefit and encourage it. Your garden will still need tending and maintaining, just in a different way. It doesn't have to mean completely redesigning what you already have in an all-or-nothing approach.
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-## What are the benefits of wildlife gardening?+===== What are the benefits of wildlife gardening? =====
  
 Wildlife gardens are beautiful and infinitely fascinating, providing interest all year round. There's lots of evidence to show humans need a [connection to nature](/ntaw/nature_awareness) and the seasons for a true sense of well-being, so having wildlife in mind and in sight enhances quality of life. And having nature close at hand for children is invaluable education; all kids seem fascinated with wildlife, especially getting their hands in the soil and looking at creepy crawlies. Wildlife gardens are beautiful and infinitely fascinating, providing interest all year round. There's lots of evidence to show humans need a [connection to nature](/ntaw/nature_awareness) and the seasons for a true sense of well-being, so having wildlife in mind and in sight enhances quality of life. And having nature close at hand for children is invaluable education; all kids seem fascinated with wildlife, especially getting their hands in the soil and looking at creepy crawlies.
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 Pollinators are key to the reproduction of some plants, and a bountiful harvest in others. Encouraging pollinators (bees, butterflies, hoverflies etc.) pays great dividends to your own garden, especially if you're growing food. Hoverflies and ladybirds are especially good at eating aphids, again a great benefit for food growers who often otherwise suffer from pests like blackfly. Pollinators are key to the reproduction of some plants, and a bountiful harvest in others. Encouraging pollinators (bees, butterflies, hoverflies etc.) pays great dividends to your own garden, especially if you're growing food. Hoverflies and ladybirds are especially good at eating aphids, again a great benefit for food growers who often otherwise suffer from pests like blackfly.
  
-## What can I do?+===== What can I do? =====
  
 Rule number one – **do not use pesticides or herbicides**. Insects have a vital place in the ecological web; killing them indiscriminately breaks the chain and deprives other animals of food. Rule number one – **do not use pesticides or herbicides**. Insects have a vital place in the ecological web; killing them indiscriminately breaks the chain and deprives other animals of food.
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-## Further resources+===== Forum =====
  
 +This topic belongs to the section [[gt:gardening|Gardening, smallholding & farming]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/gardening).
  
 +It is also in the section [[gt:bushcraft|Bushcraft & Nature]] (Forum: [Bushcraft & Nature](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/bushcraft)).
  
-## Specialist curators of this topic+===== Further resources ===== 
 + 
 +- [Habitat Aid](https://www.habitataid.co.uk/) - trees, plants, seeds, blog, consultancy 
 +- [British Garden Birds](https://www.garden-birds.co.uk/
 +- [Wildlife Gardening Forum](https://wlgf.org/) - lots of info (but no forum) 
 +- [RSPB](https://www.rspb.org.uk/helping-nature/what-you-can-do/activities/planting-plan-for-wildlife-gardens) - design a wildlife garden 
 +- [The Wildlife Trusts](https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/gardening) - articles on wildlife gardening 
 +- [BugLife](https://www.buglife.org.uk/) - saving the small things that run the planet 
 +- [Butterfly Conservation](https://butterfly-conservation.org/) - working to preserve butterflies and moths; annual garden butterfly survey 
 +- [FrogLife](https://www.froglife.org/) - charity committed to the conservation of amphibians and reptiles 
 +- [Wildlife Gardening with Jenny Steel](https://www.wildlife-gardening.co.uk/
 +- [Wild About Gardens](https://www.wildaboutgardens.org.uk/) - wildlife gardening tips 
 +- [Wildlife Gardener](https://www.wildlifegardener.co.uk/), tips, articles, FAQ 
 + 
 + 
 + 
 +===== Related topics ===== 
 + 
 +- [[urbs:small-space_gardening|Urban / small-space gardening]] 
 +- [[flwr:flower_growing|Flower growing]] 
 +- [[smho:smallholding|Smallholding]] 
 +- [[ntpw:natural_pest_and_weed_control|Natural pest & weed control]] 
 +- [[natt:nature_therapy|Nature therapy]] 
 +- [[pond:ponds|Ponds]] 
 +- [[ntaw:nature_awareness|Nature awareness]]  
 + 
 + 
 + 
 +===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
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