Wildlife Gardeners Question Time FAQ

Creating a wildlife-friendly garden doesn’t require acres of land or perfect conditions. It starts with understanding what you already have and working with nature to support biodiversity over time.

This guidance is based on insights shared during our Wildlife Gardeners Question Time with local practitioners and experts.

Before You Start: A Different Way of Thinking

Wildlife gardening isn’t about quick fixes—it’s about working with natural systems.

Start here:

• Observe first – watch what naturally appears across a season before making changes
• Work with your conditions – soil, light, moisture all shape what will thrive
• Think in seasons – many changes (like planting or meadow creation) take time to establish
• Do less, not more – reducing intervention often creates better outcomes

Many gardens already contain the seeds of biodiversity—they’ve just been suppressed by mowing, tidying, or soil conditions.

Pollinators: What should I plant?

Pollinators need year-round food and habitat, not just summer flowers.

What to include:

• Honeysuckle
• Native wildflowers and meadow species
• Grasses (important for caterpillars)
• Early spring bulbs
• Late-flowering shrubs
• Hawthorn and crab apple

Key principles:

• Prioritise native species where possible
• Plant for all seasons, not just summer
• Support larval stages, not just adult insects
• Avoid monocultures
• Create layers: trees, shrubs, flowers, ground cover

Why it matters:
Around one-third of the food we eat depends on pollination. Supporting pollinators locally contributes to wider food resilience.

Moths: How can I support them?

Moths are essential but often overlooked pollinators—and a key food source for birds and bats.

Useful plants:

• Privet (critical for some species)
• Honeysuckle
• Native hedgerow plants
• Grasses and mixed shrubs

Habitat tips:

• Leave wild corners and undisturbed areas
• Plant for larval food, not just nectar
• Reduce pruning
• Minimise outdoor lighting

Key idea:
Diversity of habitat matters more than any single plant—one well-structured garden can support dozens of species.

Lawn to Meadow: How do I start?

Transforming a lawn into a meadow is a process, not a one-off action.

First step:

• Stop mowing part of your lawn and observe what emerges

Then:

• Add yellow rattle (helps weaken dominant grasses)
• Aerate compacted soil with a fork
• Introduce wildflower species if needed
• Keep grass short in early spring, then allow growth from May

Timing matters:

• Autumn is ideal for planting and establishing roots
• Meadows develop over several seasons, not instantly

Alternative: Tapestry lawn

• Primrose
• Self-heal
• Wild strawberry
• Violets

Key insight:
Mossy or “poor” lawns are often a good starting point—they indicate conditions where wildflowers can compete.

Small Gardens: How do I maximise wildlife?

Even the smallest spaces can become biodiversity hotspots.

Trees & shrubs:

• Crab apple
• Hawthorn
• Amelanchier
• Aronia
• Guelder rose
• Holly
• Dog rose

Edible planting:

• Currants and gooseberries
• Herbs
• Step-over fruit trees (compact and child-friendly)

Design approach:

• Plant in layers (vertical structure)
• Mix edible and wildlife-friendly species
• Include shelter and cover
• Think in three dimensions, not flat planting

Supporting Birds

Birds rely on a mix of food, shelter, and seasonal resources.

Helpful planting:

• Hawthorn
• Crab apple
• Holly
• Dog rose
• Berry-producing shrubs
• Native grasses

Simple actions:

• Leave seed heads through winter
• Avoid excessive tidying
• Provide shelter and nesting spaces

Note:
Low-growing native plants and grasses can support ground-feeding birds, but what works best will depend on your specific site.

Hedgehogs: What do they need?

Hedgehogs thrive in connected, slightly untidy spaces.

Create habitat with:

• Log piles
• Leaf piles
• Dead wood
• Compost heaps
• Scrubby edges

Also important:

• Create “hedgehog highways” (small gaps in fences)
• Avoid overly neat, sealed-off gardens
• Minimise pesticide use

Wildlife Ponds

Ponds quickly become some of the most biodiverse areas in a garden.

Best practice:

• Use natural liners where possible
• Include shallow edges for access
• Add native aquatic plants
• Avoid overstocking with fish

Expect:
A balanced pond includes predators—tadpole loss is part of a healthy system.

Light Pollution: Why does it matter?

Artificial light significantly disrupts wildlife behaviour.

Impacts include:

• Altered bird migration and feeding patterns
• Disrupted insect activity
• Knock-on effects for bats and other species

What you can do:

• Reduce unnecessary lighting
• Use targeted, low-level task lighting
• Avoid lighting entire garden spaces
• Use motion sensors carefully

A useful shift:
Our eyes adapt to darkness more than we expect—often we don’t need as much light as we think.

Does wildlife gardening really work?

Yes—and the evidence is growing.

Research shows:

• Higher biodiversity in diverse systems
• Improved pollination
• Greater carbon storage
• Healthier soils
• Increased resilience in food systems

Across both gardens and farms, diverse, nature-based systems consistently outperform monocultures.

Managing Fields & Larger Spaces

For paddocks or larger areas:

Start with observation:

• Reduce grazing for a season and monitor what appears
• Take photos to track change

Management options:

• Introduce hedgerows and scrub
• Plant or undersow wildflowers
• Control grazing to allow flowering

Goal:
Create a mixed habitat—grass, scrub, trees—that supports a wider range of species.

Natural Slug Control

Healthy ecosystems regulate pests naturally.

Encourage predators:

• Thrushes
• Beetles
• Frogs
• Hedgehogs

Other methods:

• Use trap crops (sacrificial plants)
• Build healthy soil with compost and organic matter

Avoid:
Heavy chemical controls, which disrupt the wider ecosystem.

Soil Health: The Foundation

Everything starts with soil.

Simple ways to improve it:

• Aerate compacted ground
• Add compost or well-rotted manure
• Let worms and microbes do the work

Healthy soil supports stronger plants, more insects, and ultimately more wildlife.

Core Principles of Wildlife Gardening

• Diversity – of plants, structures, and seasons
• Native planting – supports full life cycles
• Messiness – dead wood, leaves, and rough edges create habitat
• Soil health – underpins everything
• Reduced intervention – nature often does it better
• Learning together – sharing knowledge strengthens outcomes

Quick Wins to Get Started

• Leave a patch of lawn unmown
• Add a log or leaf pile
• Plant one native shrub
• Let part of your garden grow a little wilder
• Turn off unnecessary outdoor lighting

By creating layered, diverse, and wildlife-friendly spaces—however small—we can support pollinators, birds, mammals, and local ecosystems, while contributing to a more resilient natural environment.

With thanks to our Wildlife Gardeners Question Time panel

• Daphne DuCros – Food Forward BC
• Lexi Morris – Little and Wild Flowers
• Rob Rowe – Going Wild Steering Group
• Pete Carty – Going Wild Steering Group
• Tomas Remiarz – Permaculture Association
• Nancy Lowe – The Natural Gardener