We see the flowers blooming and the sun shining and automatically wander into the garden despite the cold temperatures and high chance of rain. A lot of us are probably wondering how you attract wildlife and birds into our gardens to release its full potential – this would depend on the type of wildlife you’re looking to attract. Don’t have garden and only have a balcony? No problem a lot of these methods and techniques can be applied.
And don't forget to check our local trusted gardeners to help you design your animal sanctuary!
Attracting Birds to your Garden
To encourage birds into your gardens provide them with food and water and they’ll be sure to pay a frequent visit, like us they’re creatures of habit! Birds are all different, they come in all shapes and size and come all year round.
They will be grateful for all kinds of food, from leftovers to shop-bought. Be sure to place food in a feeder and on the ground to cater for all types of birds, you can give them the following:
Peanuts
Avoid feeding whole peanuts during spring as they could choke baby birds, put then in a wired feeder or crush or grate them. Peanuts are a popular choice from tits, woodpeckers, house sparrows and green finches.
Fat Balls
These are a great source of energy! Robins, starlings, blackbirds and tits will all eat this.
Nyjer seed
These will be too small for feeders so you need to use a specialised feeder, but they are loved by finches and are high in fat.
Sunflower hearts
Full of fat and protein sunflower hearts are great high energy snacks for finches, sparrows, blackbirds and tits.
Food from your cupboard
Avoid feeding fat from cooked meats as this can damage birds’ feathers. The following food can be given to birds; apples, pears, unsalted bacon rinds, cheese, dry oats… etc.
AND don’t forget to give the birds water! You can also give birds a home with a nest box or a bird house.
Attracting Bees to your Garden
Flowers are the best source of nectar, pollen and shelter for bees, butterflies and other wildlife and let’s not forget they smell and look great, livening up the dullest outside spaces. However it is important you choose the right plants as some don’t produce nectar or pollen or is inaccessible for to bees and butterflies. You can also create or buy a home for solitary bees.
Attracting Amphibians to your Garden
To try and encourage frogs, toads and newts add a mini pond to your garden or get one of our local gardeners to help! They’ll be emerging from hibernation in February.
Attracting Hedgehogs to your Garden
You can feed hedgehogs meal worms, minced meat, sunflower hearts, unsalted nuts, non-fish based cat and dog food or you can buy special food. Don’t forget water!
Give a hog a home by making your garden hedgehog friendly. Come autumn they will be on the lookout for somewhere to sleep over the winter period; log piles, compost heaps and safe under shed spots are popular. You could even build or buy one for them, but remember to put them somewhere quiet and facing away from the winds.
Source: RSPCA