Sometimes it is good to let nature lend a helping hand in your garden.

From pollinators to pest control, the wildlife you attract to your garden can determine what grows and what does not.

There are many simple ways to encourage creatures from butterflies to bumble bees, hoverflies to hedge sparrows into any garden.  These animals and insects can help reduce pests and increase the diversity of plants that grow, while you sit back and let your garden thrive. 

Encourage wildlife into your garden and you can promote biodiversity and conserve endangered species, all the while creating an attractive and colourful environment for everyone to enjoy. 

An effective way to do this is to let nature take its course and to allow your garden to grow wild.  Wildflowers create a mini-wildlife sanctuary, providing nectar for butterflies, bees and moths, food plants for caterpillars and seeds for birds.  Bluebells, cowslips, foxgloves and primroses are all wildflowers which will add colour and beauty to any garden.  Any young explorers will find endless plants, mini-beasts and animals to learn about.

Who: Butterfly
Why: Important pollinator
How: Plant nectar-rich flowers such as buddleia

Who: Hedge Sparrow
Why: Eats grubs from the lawn
How: Put up nesting boxes and bird feeders

Who: Hedgehogs
Why: Eat slugs, snails and earthworms
How: Create small dens with mounds of sticks surrounded by ferns

Who: Bumble Bee
Why: Important pollinator with very long tongue to reach nectar
How: Provide bees’ favourite flowers such as weigela