Wildlife Welfare

Garden Wildlife Welfare: Creating Refuges

Domestic gardens collectively cover a significant area and can be managed to substantially improve local wildlife welfare through habitat provision.

Key Facts

Domestic gardens in the UK collectively cover more area than all nature reserves combined
Hedgehog populations have declined by 30% in rural areas over the last decade
Bird feeders can support significant wildlife populations through winter food scarcity
Pesticide-free gardens provide essential insect habitat and food resources
Connected garden corridors enable wildlife movement through urban landscapes

Welfare Considerations

Individual garden management decisions aggregate into significant wildlife welfare outcomes at landscape scale. Gardens managed for wildlife provide food, shelter, and breeding habitat for declining species. Simple measures including reducing pesticide use, providing water, creating cover, and connecting gardens through hedgehog-friendly gaps have measurable wildlife welfare impacts.

What You Can Do

Create a wildlife pond even a small one to benefit amphibians and insects
Install hedgehog gaps in garden fences to enable local movement
Reduce or eliminate pesticide use to protect insects and insectivorous wildlife
Plant native species that support local food webs