Wildlife Garden Award

Buff-tailed bumble-bee collecting nectar

Buff-tailed bumblebee. Photo, Chris Gomersall/2020VISION

Wildlife Garden Award

Join hundreds of people gardening for wildlife in Devon!

Get your garden buzzing with wildlife and you could qualify for our free plaque to display in your garden!

There are 15 million gardens in the UK totalling an area greater than all our National Nature Reserves put together, so what you do in your garden MATTERS. Whether you have a large garden or a small balcony our outside spaces can provide vital stepping stones across the landscape. Your space can be part of the patchwork of wildlife friendly areas linking towns and the countryside.  

Wild plants growing out of a brick wall

How do I make a garden a haven for wildlife?

Gardening for wildlife doesn’t need to be complicated; neither does it mean abandoning your secateurs and surrendering to a bramble invasion! There are simple ways of inviting wildlife in, some of which can be found on our wildlife gardening page.

Plaque with DWT logo and 'this is a wildlife friendly garden'

Swift Signs

How do I qualify for the wildlife gardening award?

To attract wildlife to your garden you need to provide opportunities for wildlife to get food, water and shelter. You may also need to manage your garden a little differently. To enter the scheme you must have at least 10 of the features below, with at least two from each area (food, water, shelter, management and connectivity) .

In return you will receive an award plaque to proudly display on your gate, wall or door, and a wildlife garden themed booklet packed with hints and tips for inspiration.

Please note, as we are a local, county Wildlife Trust we can only send packs to Devon residents.

Flowers growing at Cricklepit Mill

Our own wildlife garden in Exeter

Here at Devon Wildlife Trust, we're lucky enough to have our own wildlife garden at Crickelpit Mill, our headquarters in Exeter. The garden is cared for by a team of volunteers, and thanks to their hard work it is a haven for wildlife with wildflowers, bug hotels, log piles, ponds, trees and more!

Find out more

Apply for your plaque

To apply, just tick all of the features that you have in your garden from the list below and then complete the rest of the form including up to four photographs. 

Alternatively you can send us a summary and photographs by post to Devon Wildlife Trust, Cricklepit Mill, Commercial Road, Exeter, EX2 4AB.

Fill out my online form.

Become a member and support our work

The vital work we do for nature depends on the support of people who care about the future of Devon’s wildlife and wild places.

Become a member