Urban Wildlife

Welfare of Wildlife in Urban Gardens

Urban gardens provide critical wildlife habitat, but garden practices including pesticide use, netting, and pond design create welfare risks for garden wildlife.

Key Facts

Garden ponds provide habitat for amphibians, birds, and insects in urban areas
Fruit cage netting kills birds and small mammals that become entangled
Slug pellets poison hedgehogs, birds, and ground beetles that consume them
Bird feeders support urban bird populations but must be maintained hygienically
Decomposing organic matter in gardens supports invertebrate communities

Welfare Considerations

Urban gardens can either support or harm wildlife welfare depending on management practices. Simple changes — removing netting at night, switching to iron phosphate slug controls, and providing wildlife-safe pond escapes — make urban gardens genuine welfare havens.

What You Can Do

Remove fruit cage netting at night when birds are roosting
Switch to wildlife-safe slug controls avoiding metaldehyde products
Install escape ramps in garden ponds for small animals
Provide clean, fresh water for birds year-round in your garden