Wildlife-Friendly Gardening: Welfare in Your Own Space

Gardens can be transformed into refuges for wildlife, providing food, shelter, and safe passage for species under pressure from habitat loss.

Key Facts

UK gardens cover over 400,000 hectares — more than all national nature reserves combined
40% of species in the UK are in decline, many of which use gardens
Connected gardens create wildlife corridors in fragmented urban landscapes
Pesticide-free gardens support insects that form the base of food chains
Hedgehog highways (gaps in fences) help mammals move safely between gardens

Welfare Considerations

Wildlife in gardens faces threats from pesticides that kill food sources, garden machinery that injures ground-nesting animals, and isolated gardens that prevent movement. Pesticide exposure impairs insect navigation, reproduction, and survival. Bonfires and compost heaps shelter hedgehogs and toads that are then killed when disturbed. Connected, pesticide-free, structure-rich gardens provide direct welfare benefits to hundreds of individual animals and support population recovery.

What You Can Do

Create a hedgehog hole in garden fences to allow wildlife movement
Stop using pesticides and herbicides in gardens
Plant native shrubs, wildflowers, and trees for food and shelter
Provide a wildlife pond — even a small one supports significant biodiversity
Check bonfires and compost heaps before disturbing them