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World Wildlife Day: 8 Ways to Build a Wildlife-Friendly Garden
- Claudette B.
- Mar 3, 2023
- 6 min read
3rd March 2023 marks World Wildlife Day, a United Nations International Day dedicated to the wild animals and plants that make our world so special, and the contribution they play to our natural ecosystem.
Why 3rd March? This was chosen as it is the birthday of CITES – or the 1973 Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. As a tribute to their work in conservation, the theme for this year's World Wildlife Day is 'Partnerships for Wildlife Conservation'. Find out more about World Wildlife Day and CITES by visiting https://www.wildlifeday.org/en, or the #WWD2023 hashtag on social media. |  |
So, why is this relevant to tools? Well, did you know around 2,673 species of plants, insects and other invertebrates can be found in the average UK garden?* That's a lot of biodiversity in one space! However, due to the rising popularity in artificial grass, patio-only gardens, synthetic plants and other urbanisation trends, this biodiversity is rapidly decreasing**; with some species, like bees, at risk of extinction*** (which is a big problem for humans, too).
To reverse this issue, we must all take responsibility and learn how to build a wildlife-friendly habitat in our outdoor spaces. Here are 8 ways you can do your bit to protect the wildlife in your garden.
1. Grow an array of native plants
Native plants are in the place they were meant to be, so naturally, they require less watering and maintenance than their non-native counterparts. That already makes them a winner for convenience, but what about in terms of creating a wildlife-friendly space?
Well, along with providing shelter for the many mammals of the garden, they're great for providing a food source. In the UK, foxes, while known for their carnivorous tendencies, are actually omnivores, and love to feed on native blackberries. Butterflies, moths, hummingbirds, native bees and other pollinators also benefit from their nectar, since these plants have co-evolved to support the surrounding ecosystem. Honeysuckle can even feed creatures of the night, since they release their scent after dark, attracting pollinating insects (which in turn provides food for the bats!).
  | To grow your native plants, you'll need to make the ground suitable for seed sowing. Allow the TM-GLR31 to help you with that:
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2. Water everything
The key to a luscious garden that attracts all the bugs and wildlife you could dream of lies in your persistence to keep them alive. And how do you keep things alive? You provide plenty of hydration. That means watering your flowers, plants and lawn regularly (unless the British rain beats you to it).
You can opt for a classic watering can to do this, however, if it goes beyond watering a few plants, this can be quite time-consuming. The quickest way to water the entire garden is to invest in a good sprinkler or hose. You'll want one that covers a large area and can adjust to control the distance of the spray so that you're not accidentally spraying the patio (that would be a waste of water). Lucky for you, we have loads from TOUGH MASTER to choose from, including oscillating sprinklers, revolving sprinklers, wall-mounted hose pipes, garden hose pipes and more.
  | If you're stuck for choice, we recommend the highly versatile TM-HRS20M, built for all but the biggest gardens:
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3. Build a pond
Adding water to your garden doesn't just involve watering the plants – you can make a whole habitat out of it! Ponds are a fantastic way to entice wildlife into your garden, providing a place to eat and relax for a variety of amphibians and insects, as well as somewhere to drink for mammals.
You don't need a large space for a pond, either; just a mini pond will do (providing there are sloping slides for the animals to get in and out safely). Even plants can thrive in a pond. Take a UK-native aquatic plant like hornwort and it'll oxygenate the entire patch, creating a really healthy space for its inhabitants. This also supports the UK's natural food chain, with insects coming to lay in the water attracting bats that feast on them. UK native frogs, newts and toads will also get a good snack out of the invertebrates, which in turn make a great meal for the birds.
  | You'll want a good patch of land with plenty of sunlight for your pond. Use the TM-SL60V-KIT1 to make sure it's level:
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4. Ditch your artificial grass
If you're currently staring out at your well-kept artificial lawn, we hate to say it, but this one's for you. Fake turf is becoming a usual sight in British gardens, but did you know they're posing a threat to wildlife? This is because synthetic fibers cannot provide food or shelter and can never biodegrade.
While it may look pretty and require less maintenance, if you have artificial grass, your lawn is essentially in a desert-like state, with no biodiversity in sight. The herbivores cannot eat the grass, the bees cannot pollinate the flowers and the carnivores cannot eat the herbivores, since they have been left to starve. This is very bad news for nature lovers, conservationists, as well as those who simply enjoy living (we need worms and ants to aerate the soil to give us oxygen!) It's time to be an example and rip up that fake turf once and for all.
  | Roll your faux lawn up and use a digging fork to prepare areas of soil for turfing, like the ROU68140:
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5. Keep grass mowing to a minimum
Along with keeping living grass, there should be areas of the lawn that are left unmown. This is to create a habitat for insects to lay their eggs, as well as provide a safe space for flowers to bloom and bees to get their nectar without disturbance. Try the back of your garden, or somewhere else with low foot traffic.
In the parts of the garden where the lawn does need to be mowed, try to keep the mowing to a minimum. What we mean is to mow in moderation, without overdoing it. You don't want to cull too many insects in your path (which is unavoidable when cutting the grass), so by limiting the number of times you mow it, you'll save more wildlife in the process. It is important to know that you don't need to leave the lawn completely unkempt to help wildlife – after all, mown areas are useful for birds of prey to feed on insects – just enough to keep everyone happy.
  | When mowing around your nectar cafe or grass patch, you'll want to use a powerful mower, like the DLM382CT2:
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6. Build a bird box
Natural nest sites for birds are in decline. With building developments going up every other day, there is less and less farmland for the birds to inhabit; not to mention fewer trees for them to perch in. This puts birds at risk since they are more likely to be exposed to predators.
That's why it's a great idea to create a nest box that you can add to your garden. It gives the birds somewhere safe to raise their young and can contribute to the breeding of more bird species in your area. What's more, it's excellent for entertainment as you watch the birds come and go from your garden (especially if you're an avid bird watcher!) Keep some food and water out for them, too, and they'll be happy as Larry. We suggest building one out of timber since it is a water-resistant material that can withstand different weather conditions.
  | You'll want a good saw that can cut through soft and hardwood with ease, like the TM-HS511V:
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7. Replace fences with hedges
A simple yet effective way to bring wildlife into your garden is to replace your fences with hedges. This will provide a plethora of feeding opportunities to your garden, with leaves for the slugs, flower nectar for the butterflies, berries for the hedgehogs, seeds for the ants and bugs for the birds.
It can also be another way for animals to shelter and can provide a place for spiders to spin their webs. What's more, it means no more fences, which is fantastic news, since they can be a burden to maintain. For instance, they can fall down in high winds (an often yearly occurrence) and be costly to replace. They also require regular upkeep of paint, which can be strenuous over time. All hedges will need is a bit of a trim now and then with a good pruner, and they're good to go. And no worries about privacy – a large hedge will be just as adequate as a fence.
  | We recommend the TM-GP21 for a light Bypass Pruner that won't be too brutal on wildlife during use:
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8. Plant a tree
We've saved the best for last as we believe planting trees is truly the most effective way to preserve wildlife in any environment – not just the garden. Why? Well, because the entire ecosystem depends on biodiversity, and trees provide everything required to support it.
From improving the air quality to housing myriad species of plants, animals and fungi, trees (particularly oak trees) can not only reduce the effects of climate change, but reverse it entirely. They do this by providing soil for oxygenating, removing carbon from the air and storing it (even in dead wood) and preventing flooding through their root systems. So, just imagine if every household had at least one of these climate-saving plants in their garden – that's a lot of biodiversity! They're super easy to plant, too; all you need is a bit of space and the right equipment.
  | Like the ROU68224 Digging Spade, ideal for digging a hole big enough to fill a tree:
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It's all about maintenance
So, you know how to keep your garden wildlife-friendly, but it's equally as important to know when to complete these tasks.
Maintaining your garden for 365 days a year is highly recommended, even if it is at a time of year when a lot of the animals in your garden are hibernating. This is because there are still plenty of animals like squirrels, birds and foxes who are not hibernating that will be finding the winter tough. Providing them with the three key needs for survival (food, shelter and water) is the best way to keep them thriving.
Meanwhile, during droughts in the summer, watering your plants and lawn is a must for keeping them hydrated, healthy and blooming.
Here's to a flourishing garden that's home to all walks of life; from the creepy crawlies in the soil to the birds in the trees, all the way to the comfortable humans lounging in their swing seats.
Sources:
* As per Dr. Jennifer Owen's 30-year study in a 'quite ordinary' Leicester garden: http://www.wlgf.org/jennifer_owen_species_numbers.pdf
** See bullet point, 'Urbanisation and the loss of countryside to buildings, roads and other developments' at http://www.wlgf.org/changing_garden_biodiversity.pdf
*** Bees can starve or overheat without a thriving habitat. See: https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.aax8591
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