Go wild for wildlife in your garden this Wild About Gardens Week!

They say charity begins at home, and this week, it's Wild About Gardens Week.   It's organised by the RHS and the Wildlife Trusts.

There's lots we can all do to help wildlife from home, as well as collecting stamps. 

9 Actions we can all take to help wildlife in our gardens include:

1.  Feeding the birds - you can buy bird food and have it delivered from many companies and charities online, including the RSPB, Garden Bird, Garden Wildlife Direct,  Birds and Bees and Sutton Seeds to name a few.

Peer REALLY closely & you'll see a bee buzzing about on this cat nip -
I know it's not the best photo, but it gives me so much pleasure to know the wildlife are enjoying my plants...
and to know that something I've planted...has actually grown!!!!!

2.  Planting flowers and plants to encourage wildlife

3,  Keeping our hedges so that they can act as wildlife corridors and give wildlife somewhere to nest and rest

4.  Leaving a bit of the garden in a bit of mess - perhaps a corner or a run.  Cut back on tidying up!

5.  Having a source of water for visiting wildlife to drink from

6.  Creating a pond, if we've got the room, or a bug mansion, or a mini stone wall - the Wild About Gardens has several ideas of things you can do over a weekend to help wildlife

7.  Taking part in the Big Garden Birdwatch in January (in 2015 it's 24-25 January - you don't need to do this is in your garden, you can also go to a local park and record the birds you see from there)

8.  Make a log shelter for the insects - it doesn't have to be big or grand. Or build a bee hotel or plant a tree

9.  Feed your visitors!  Feed the wildlife and they will come... Here are some things to feed animals such as hedgehogs and badgers

10. Find out about the animals who visit your garden.  The Wild About Gardens website has lots of info. 

11. Encourage children to get active in the garden and make a home for wildlife.  Give them the chance to give something back.  Watching wildlife and seeing who you can spot can be a great family activity!

Your efforts don't need to be perfect...the wildlife won't worry if your flowers don't come up to Chelsea Flower show standard.   They just want us all to give it a go and get active in our gardens for them.