Wildlife gardens and wildflower meadows
Gardens can be some of the richest wildlife habitats around, and small changes make a big difference. I help you plan a garden that brings in bees, birds, hedgehogs and more, from a wildflower patch to a whole-garden plan, without losing a garden you enjoy using.
What makes a garden good for wildlife
| Flowers through the seasons | Nectar and pollen from early spring to late autumn, so bees and other pollinators always have something to feed on. |
|---|---|
| A wildflower meadow or patch | Even a corner of lawn left long and sown with wildflowers brings in insects, and a full meadow needs only one or two cuts a year. |
| Native hedges | A mixed native hedge gives birds food, shelter and nesting sites, and makes a far better boundary for wildlife than a fence. |
| Water | A small pond, or even a sunken container with a ramp, draws in frogs, newts, dragonflies and birds. |
| Hedgehog highways | A 13 cm square hole at the base of a fence lets hedgehogs travel between gardens to find food and mates. |
| Places to shelter | Log piles, leaf litter and a few seed heads left over winter give insects and birds somewhere to live. |
Creating a wildflower meadow
Wildflowers do best on poor soil, where grasses can't crowd them out, so meadows are often easiest on thin or worn ground rather than rich lawn.
You can sow from early March to June, or in late summer and early autumn. Yellow rattle, sown in autumn, is a big help: it's a hemi-parasite that weakens grasses and gives the wildflowers room.
Once it's established, a meadow is cut back after flowering, and the cuttings are taken away so the soil doesn't get richer.
How I can help
In County Durham and nearby, I can visit on a garden consultation and walk the garden with you to find the best spots for a meadow, a pond or a hedge. Wherever you are in the UK, I can draw a wildlife-friendly planting plan from your photos and measurements.
Price
I price wildlife garden plans when you get in touch, depending on the size of the garden and whether you'd like a visit, a planting plan or both.
I also offer garden consultations, planting plans, garden design, veg and allotment coaching, native hedge planting, workshops and talks and gift vouchers, and you can read more about my background.
Wildlife gardens questions
Will a wildlife garden look messy?
It doesn't have to. Neat edges, mown paths through longer grass and well-chosen planting make a wildlife garden look cared for, while still giving wildlife what it needs.
Can I turn my lawn into a wildflower meadow?
Often, yes, though lawns are usually too fertile for wildflowers to compete at first. Cutting the grass short and often, removing the cuttings, and sowing yellow rattle all help tip the balance.
What's the single best thing I can do for wildlife?
Plant more, and more variety: layers of trees, shrubs, flowers and grasses. A native hedge is one of the best value changes you can make.
Plan a wildlife garden
Tell me about your garden and what you'd like to attract, and I'll reply with a price and ideas for where to start.