The Wildlife Gardening Approaches

The interests of wildlife gardeners usually fall into 3 brackets. Of course, most wildlife gardeners employ a mixture of approaches without thinking but it can be useful to tease them apart:

1. Focus on habitats. Here, miniature versions of habitats are created to imitate those found in the wild or areas where human influence is less marked i.e. ‘semi-natural’ areas. These include the woodland edge, hedgerow, meadow, heathland, pond and bog. Habitats of greater human influence that have proved very useful for wildlife are also recreated such as an orchard, wasteland or vertical structures such as buildings that provide support or shelter. The wild plants planted, and the type of animals attracted, are dictated by the choice of habitat.

2. Focus on wild plants. Here, plants are grown for interest, such as for appearance or smell. Or they are grown as a conservation exercise because natural habitats are declining, thus providing a home for them and increasing their numbers to protect them for the future. They will attract numerous wild animals but this is a bonus, as is any semi-natural habitat they happen to form en masse.

3. Focus on wild animals. Here, the gardener has an interest in particular wild animals and does whatever it takes to attract them, feed and water them, and to provide resting and breeding grounds. Birds are by far the most common animals to cater for, with millions of people across the UK feeding them, erecting nest boxes and putting out bird baths. Many people do not realise how the basic needs of food, water, shelter, resting places and breeding grounds can be provided in full or part for many other animals including ladybirds, lacewings, butterflies, bumblebees, hedgehogs, and so on. In this approach, plant or habitats choice is dictated by the animals the gardener seeks to attract.

All of these themes are covered in detail, or will be, in individual ebooks on The Wildlife Garden website: www.thewildlifegarden.co.uk.