The Reasons for Wildlife Gardening

1. Conservation
2. Pleasure
3. Education

1. Conservation - gardens collectively account for a massive land mass in Britain and therefore offer a great conservation opportunity. Gardens can provide all the basics animals and plants need: food, water, shelter, reproductive grounds and a refuge away from chemicals, roads and construction. Although wildlife gardening can never replace conservation of natural habitats, as a supplementary effort it is one of the most important and rewarding things we can do to help. And no garden is too small - window feeders can be used in high rise flats so everyone can do their bit!

2. Pleasure - many people simply love watching wildlife. Wildlife gardening is a fascinating hobby and there is more wildlife living in gardens than many people realise. Even inner cities teem with wildlife such as birds, hedgehogs, butterflies and ladybirds. Few people would deny the joy of observing birds feeding at a bird feeder or seeing a hedgehog appear from its winter slumber. A wildlife garden is certainly very dynamic with lots of movement.

3. Education - wildlife gardening provides an excellent educational resource for children and adults alike. There are animals and wild flowers to identify, mini habitats to recreate such as a wildflower meadow, and organic principles to learn such as interesting alternatives to pesticides. There are also amazing facts to learn. For example, did you know hedgehogs can climb over fences?! Or that some tadpoles never change into frogs but become giant tadpoles?!