Tom Marshall
Gardening for wildlife
The importance of wildlife gardening
Large or small, lawn or courtyard, our gardens provide a patchwork of green spaces for wildlife. There are an estimated 16 million gardens in the UK and the way these are cared for can make a big difference to wildlife.
Why have a plain, ugly fence when a green, living boundary can bring the riches of flowers, scent, berries, rich colours and wildlife? Ever thought about which heavenly-scented plants provide night-time nectar for moths? Or digging a pond? If you introduce a water feature, not for fish but for newts, dragonflies, and pond skaters, you'll also be providing water for birds. Plant up the edges with the golden blooms of marsh marigolds and the lush spikes of purple loosestrife and you'll have nectar stations for insects and beauty to dwell on.
Your garden can become a refuge for many of our struggling species by making a few simple changes. Whether you'd like to explore a whole host of wild ideas, or just have space for something small, you'll be making a huge difference for Devon's wildlife.
How to create a wildlife-friendly garden
We teamed up with RHS to celebrate wildlife gardening and to encourage people to use their gardens to take action to help support nature. Many of our common garden visitors – including hedgehogs, house sparrows and starlings – are increasingly under threat. But together we can make a difference.
This year we’re going wild about molluscs! Slugs, snails and wildlife gardening might seem like an odd combination. Gardening advice is often aimed at excluding these natural neighbours. But is there a way to live alongside them instead?
We want to make Devon the most hedgehog-friendly county! Help boost Devon’s hedgehog population by doing something to help hedgehogs in your garden - you can start by downloading our guide below which is filled with ideas and inspiration.
Looking for more ways to help your local hedgehogs? You can find more info below.
More wildlife gardening guides
Actions you can take to create a wildlife-friendly garden
Wildlife Garden Award
Clare Wills Treasures of Ide Photography
Is your garden already buzzing with wildlife? Devon Wildlife Trust's Wildlife Garden Award invites you to add your garden to the patchwork of wild spaces across Devon. It's easy to enter and you can receive your free plaque to display!
Wildlife gardening webinar
Devon Wildlife Trust's Wilder Communities Team – Hetty and Katie – hosted a fun and informative talk on wildlife gardening and how we can all take action for nature on our doorsteps. The talk also featured a community group representative who talked about their experience of turning their garden into a wildlife haven.
Take Action for Insects
Photo, Ross Hoddinott/2020VISION
Watching bees and butterflies in your garden can bring great joy, and all insects do important jobs such as pollinating our crops. But 41% of insects face extinction. To help insects thrive throughout the year we need to create spaces where they can live, and our gardens are a brilliant place to start! Our Action for Insects page contains lots of useful information to help you turn your home and garden into insect-friendly havens.
The Renters' Retreat
The Wildlife Trusts
The Wildlife Trusts’ show garden, Renter’s Retreat designed by Zoe Claymore, was awarded a gold medal and the Best Get Started Garden award at the 2023 RHS Hampton Court Garden Festival. The garden explores how a small, shady courtyard can be transformed into a beautiful wildlife haven, while providing a relaxing space for people to enjoy. The design aims to inspire people to make yards and gardens wilder to help nature recover in urban areas.
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.