Top Tips for Planning Your Garden for People and Wildlife
Creating a garden that’s enjoyable for you and welcoming to wildlife is a wonderful way to connect with nature right outside your door. With a little thoughtful planning, you can design a space that balances beauty, relaxation, and a haven for bees, birds, and other creatures.
Why Plan for Both People and Wildlife?
Gardens aren’t just for people—they’re mini ecosystems. Wildlife needs food, water, shelter, and safe spaces to thrive. By planning carefully, you can create areas that serve your family’s needs for dining, lounging, and socialising while also preserving wild corners where nature can flourish.
Use Your Space Wisely
Designate Dining and Lounge Areas: Set aside comfortable spots for eating, relaxing, and spending time together. Think about shade, privacy, and easy access to your house.
Leave Some Areas Wild: Wildlife thrives best in areas left a little untamed. Patches of longer grass, native shrubs, or a small wildflower meadow provide food and shelter for pollinators, birds, and small mammals.
Create Layers and Diversity: Use a mix of trees, shrubs, perennials, and groundcover to offer varied habitats and visual interest. Different heights and textures help both wildlife and the human eye.
Incorporate Water Features: Birdbaths, ponds, or even small water dishes invite wildlife in and create soothing spots for you to enjoy.
Avoid Chemicals: Opt for natural pest control and encourage beneficial insects. Look into companion planting to keep pests away from your veggies!
Practical Tips for Sharing Your Garden
Pathways: Create clear paths that guide visitors without disturbing wildlife areas.
Seating: Place benches or lounge furniture at the edge of wild zones so you can enjoy watching nature without intruding.
Night-time Lighting: Use soft, wildlife-friendly lighting to avoid disturbing nocturnal animals.
Provide Food: Plant native flowers, shrubs with berries, and seed-bearing plants to support a variety of wildlife throughout the seasons.
By thoughtfully designing your garden as a shared space, you create a peaceful, beautiful retreat that supports nature’s incredible diversity - and gives you countless moments of joy and discovery.
