RSPB Gardening for Wildlife

So what wildlife does use gardens? Well, we know a lot more about that from the pioneering work done by the amazing Jennifer Owen who, for 30 years, tried to identify every species that she observed in her average, suburban garden in Leicester. She managed to find 2,673 species, including 94 species of hoverfly, 375 species of moth and 442 species of beetle. Her list even included several species of tiny wasp new to science! Who would ever have believed that gardens were so rich with wildlife?

In this section, we look at the wildlife commonly found in gardens – birds, mammals, butterflies, whatever – and discover what their particular home needs are, which will help you to decide which visitors you’d like to encourage.

In each species account, their Distribution will help you establish whether they live near you and consequently how likely they are to pass by your garden. Their Habitat and Habits tell you what type of environment they like to live in. You can see whether you already have the right types of landscape and vegetation in and around your garden, or if it’s worth trying to create it.

If it looks like you’ve got a realistic chance of playing host to a species, you can check out their other home needs such as:

Put all that together and you should have a good picture of what each species needs if they are to feel at home, and whether you think you can pull off those conditions in your garden.

Each species account finishes with a quick résumé, the ‘So…’ section, which sums up what gardeners can best do to encourage that species. The later stages of the book will then help you get on and achieve those things.

Note that this book doesn’t aim to be an identification guide. If you want extra help, then the second edition of the companion RSPB Handbook of Garden Wildlife, by Peter Holden and Geoffrey Abbott, is a must.

It is very likely that there are some species you most certainly don’t want to encourage – the beleaguered Rat springs to mind, but there are several others that, in certain circumstances, may cause problems for other wildlife, for your neighbours, or for you.

I have included all of these species in the text, because understanding their home needs is just as important as it is for the species you do want to help. Only by recognising why unwelcome guests have chosen your garden can you know what not to provide or what temptation to remove.

When you see a creature, such as this Weasel, in a certain place, it’s there for a reason; understanding those reasons is the key to effective wildlife gardening.