Leaflets

Norfolk Wildlife Trust has produced a series of leaflets on all aspects of wildlife - from gardening and composting to specific plants and animals. Click on the links below that you are interested in to open a print-ready PDF of the leaflet.

Garden Wildlife
 

Amphibian friendly gardens
With the loss of many ponds in the wider countryside, gardens have become an increasingly important refuge for amphibians. An amphibian friendly garden will provide food, shelter and hibernation sites and, if there is water present, an essential breeding area.

Bat friendly gardens
Bats are still subject of many illfounded myths and prejudices but in fact are harmless and fascinating creatures. Much can be done in gardens to make them more attractive to bats and all of these measures will benefit other wildlife.

Bird friendly gardens
Birds bring colour, movement and song to our gardens. Having a range of species regularly visiting your garden provides year round interest and brightens up the dullest days.

Bird nest box
Here are instructions on how to make your own nestbox for small birds.
 
Bumblebees
Summer wouldn’t be summer without the gentle buzzing of bees. Bees are vital pollinators in our gardens, but sadly many bee species are under threat. You can help bumblebees by making your garden ‘bee friendly’.

Butterfly friendly gardens
Butterflies are beautiful and probably the most loved of all garden insects. Sadly many butterfly species have undergone massive declines in the wider countryside.

Composting
Every wildlife friendly garden needs a compost heap. Creating a compost heap in your garden is easy. As well as providing a home for wildlife it will provide free fertiliser for your garden and reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill sites.

Create your own Poppyland
Growing these attractive wildflowers in your garden is not only a colourful reminder of Norfolk’s wildlife heritage but will bring your garden to life with butterflies, bees and hoverflies.

Deadwood
You can help wildlife by providing dead wood within your garden. Many species of lichens, mosses, fungi and invertebrates depend for part or all of their life cycle on the presence of dead wood.

Grow your own mistletoe
Mistletoe is best known for its association with Christmas and the custom of kissing under a sprig of it. The grubbing up of traditional apple and pear orchards has destroyed one of its most important habitats. You can help conserve this attractive evergreen plant by encouraging its growth in your garden.

Hedges
Hedges, both on farmland and in gardens, are vital for wildlife. They provide shelter, nesting places for birds, and a network of route-ways for wildlife linking one garden to the next. Hedges support an amazing diversity of wildlife including invertebrates, small mammals, mosses, ferns and wildflowers.

How green is your garden?
Gardens are good for our health, happiness and wellbeing. Your garden can also play a key role in reducing the impact of climate change and creating sustainable living landscapes for people and wildlife. As the climate changes, our gardens can help wildlife by being part of a network of green spaces that allow wildlife to move and adapt to changing conditions.

Reptile friendly gardens
To some people the thought of snakes and lizards visiting their garden is not appealing; to others it would be a privilege. If you fall into the latter category, or are willing to be persuaded, then read on to discover how to make your garden reptile-friendly.

Small mammals
No matter what size your garden, or whether you are in a city or the countryside, you are likely to be visited by native mammals. You may spot a hedgehog ambling across a lawn, or glimpse a wood mouse enjoying a fallen apple, but most small mammals are mainly active at night and often go largely unnoticed.

Solitary bees
Bees are fun to watch and bring life and movement to gardens from early spring to autumn. Most people are only familiar with bumblebees but of around 250 species of bee found in the UK the vast majority are solitary bees.

The night shift
You may be familiar with the wildlife inhabiting your garden by day, but what about the night shift? A wholly different cast of wildlife characters uses your garden during the hours of darkness. Getting to know them can prove a fascinating and addictive pastime.

Wildlife friendly lawns
Nearly every garden has at least one area of lawn. Lawns areareas for children to play on, for walking and running on, for sitting or sunbathing on and for picnics and outdoor dining. Though they are probably the garden areas we use the most they can also be important areas for a surprisingly wide range of wildlife.
 

Norfolk Wild File
 

The following leaflets provide information on 36 of Norfolk's wildlife species, illustrated with drawings and colour identification charts. They have identification tips, as well as ways to make your sightings count.

Adder
Badger
Barn Owl
Bee Orchid
Bullfinch
Bumble Bee
Comma
Cowslip
Chinese Water Deer
Frog
Great Crested Newt
Glowworm
Grass Snake
Grey Partridge
Hare
Harebell
Harvest Mouse
Hummingbird Hawk Moth
Hedgehog
Hornet
House Sparrow
Kingfisher
Maybug
Mistletoe
Norfolk Hawker
Otter
Poppy
Saxifrage
Slow Worm
Song Thrush
Spotted Flycatcher
Swallowtail
Toad
Turtle Dove
Water Vole
Yellowhammer