Help wildlife at home

In the garden

1. Enjoy watching wildlife in your garden – the more time you spend watching wildlife the more you will understand its needs
2. First do no harm!  Avoid using poisons in the garden – avoid killing things – this includes wasps and spiders!
3. Don’t be too tidy – wildlife thrives in undisturbed areas – leave some areas even if  small as wild areas
4. Wildlife needs food, water and shelter – consider how your garden can meet these needs
5. How green is your garden?  Recycle garden waste by composting. Make use of rainwater for watering your plants.
6. Small is beautiful - think mini-beasts – gardens which are rich in invertebrates are likely to be good of lots of other wildlife too.
7. Love your bees – solitary bee homes really work! Bees need need nectar from February to November.
8. Love your butterflies – plant traditional nectar rich species not showy hybrids
9. Provide some fresh water –  however small and keep it topped up
10. Compost counts – save yourself money and help wildlife
11. Dead wood – a well sited log pile will provide an important habitat
12. Let your grass flower – long grass is beautiful and often a missing habitat in gardens
13. Trim hedges in autumn or winter before birds start nesting in them
14. Turn your lawn into a native wildflower meadow

With children

1. Encourage children to have respect for nature and living things
2. Give presents at birthdays like seeds, bird-feeders, bee homes that encourage children to care for wildlife
3. Join your children to Wildlife Watch – the junior membership of the Wildlife Trusts
4. Make bird cake in winter and feed the birds
5. Make a nest box and put it up with your children

Norfolk Wildlife Trust has produced a series of leaflets on all aspects of garden 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.