Wildlife gardening

Go wild in your garden! Large or small, ledge or back yard, your garden can be a mosaic in a wider network of natural havens linking urban green spaces with nature reserves and the countryside.

Together, our gardens are a vast living landscape. With an estimated 24 million gardens in the UK, the way they are cared for can make a big difference to the natural world.

Hedgehogs, bats, sparrows, song thrushes and stag beetles are all declining species in the UK, but if we manage our gardens to benefit wildlife, these creatures and many more will find refuge, contributing to a Wilder Tees Valley that we can all benefit from.

Explore ways to attract pollinators, by planting a range of native species to flower throughout the year. The simple act of providing water for wildlife will have a huge impact. Try leaving a patch of logs or long grass undisturbed all year, giving shelter to all sorts of wildlife. And go chemical and peat-free, to maintain a healthy ecosystem. Explore more of our actions below.