The most notable thing during my short bird-watching holiday to Portugal was the overwhelming numbers of painted lady and clouded yellow butterflies. On my return, during the UK’s sudden late May hot spell, I found that many of them had followed me home. 2026 is appearing to be a good painted lady year; I counted a group of seven in the “meadow patch” of my garden! Keep your eyes peeled for other regular migratory butterflies too, as the clouded yellow could be arriving in good numbers soon.

A soggy, overcast early June at least helped to top my garden ponds up a little, and the browned-off patches of the lawn returned to green - much needed before the scorching heat later in the month. Those of us who leave a patch of our gardens wild will have, hopefully, been rewarded with a good showing of tall, swaying ox-eye daisies. It is worth inspecting the petals of the daisies for the flower crab spider. It is a fascinating, non-web-spinning spider, and the female camouflages herself; either white or yellow, to match the petals of daisies or buttercups. As an ambush hunter, it sits patiently waiting for its nectar-feeding prey to arrive.

I’m fortunate that my current garden allows me enough room to create a wildlife area. It has brought me enormous pleasure seeing local wildlife benefit, and even flourish, because of my modest efforts. Surrounded by intensively farmed land it is, in all other respects, an ordinary garden. However, it has yielded some remarkable records, with one particularly memorable visitor being an otter that somehow found its way into my house! Despite all this wonderful nature, there is nothing quite as magical as stepping into my garden with my granddaughter by my side. Seeing her proudly spotting and naming a garden bird, watching bees and butterflies among the blossom, or her excitement at seeing a grass snake threading its way through the pondside plants is enormously fulfilling. Wildlife gardening has, for me, become no longer a lone pursuit of planting wildflowers, taking notes, or digging ponds; it is about sharing curiosity, patience, and a love of nature with a younger generation.

The first step is often the simplest: noticing what is already there. We often sit quietly for a few minutes and see which birds or butterflies arrive in the garden, or I will choose a particular animal or plant for her to find - a living treasure hunt. Planting nectar-rich wildflowers is another joyful activity to share. I have given my granddaughter a patch of garden that is ‘hers’ to look after. Children love the feeling of responsibility, especially when it involves cherishing and growing something. A tidy garden may look neat, but nature often prefers mess. We have piled up sticks and logs in a quiet corner of the garden as shelter for insects or, if we are lucky, a hedgehog. Long grass, rough areas of nettles, or a tangle of brambles provide refuge and food for all kinds of creatures. Explaining this to a child can help them see that nature doesn’t always follow human ideas of tidiness, and hopefully helps form an adult who is less hostile to nature.

Perhaps the most important part of wildlife gardening is time. Nature does not rush. Seeds take weeks to sprout, caterpillars slowly transform, and many birds leave us for months at a time. Gardening teaches children patience in the gentlest way possible. It shows that care and attention, given day by day, can create something beautiful. So, whether you have a large or small garden, yard, or balcony, every little bit can make a difference for wildlife, and when a child helps create it, a garden becomes something even more special. By inviting nature into our gardens, we remind children that the world is alive, beautiful, and worth protecting. A patch of wildflowers or a small garden pond, shared between generations, can become the beginning of a lifelong friendship with the natural world.

Take action 
Here are five ways to get children—and yourself—excited about wildlife gardening:

• Create mini projects they can own:
  Give them a small patch or pot to plant with wildflowers or bee-friendly herbs. Perhaps build a bug hotel. Ownership makes it personal.
• Invite wildlife up close:
  Install a bird feeder, and plant buddleia or lavender to observe butterflies and bees up close. Perhaps dig a small pond.
• Turn it into a game or challenge:
  Try pollinator counts. What’s under the log or stone? Hunt for tracks and signs, or take regular seasonal photos so they can see how life in the garden changes over time.
• Connect stories and science:
  Read books or watch short videos about the creatures in their garden, then look for them outdoors. Turn curiosity into discovery.
• Celebrate every success:
  Whether it’s the first bee, a sprouting seed, or a visiting frog, mark those moments with a photo or small reward to reinforce enthusiasm.

What to look for in August
August is a fantastic month for wildlife in Norfolk, with lots of activity as summer peaks and early autumn bird migration begins. It is the perfect time to search for dragonflies: a visit to NWT Ranworth Broad, Upton Fen, or Hickling Broad, and a search along the dyke edges, will no doubt reveal southern hawkers and black-tailed skimmers. Large pools and ponds are the favourite haunts of the impressive emperor dragonfly. Norfolk’s marvellous chalkstream rivers are home to the spectacular banded demoiselle, with August being a peak time for this species.

August also marks the start of autumn migration. On the pools and scrapes at NWT Cley and Salthouse Marshes, look out for migratory waders such as greenshank, wood sandpiper, and green sandpiper. It is also the month when even rarer waders can turn up, and Cley has an impressive track record for producing rarities at this time of year.