Spring has sprung, and for budding gardeners that means it’s time to start planning for the year ahead. This year Yorkshire Wildlife Trust are encouraging gardeners of plots big and small across Yorkshire to consider their local wildlife in their plans. Each week we’re focusing on a different area of wildlife gardening that will make a big difference to your local wildlife, whilst still giving you space to grow your prize-winning tomatoes!

This week we’re looking at food and drink…

Wild

It is currently the hunger gap for your local birds; food supplies may be a little low, so make sure to place feeders where you can also spot your regular garden visitors and enjoy the activity! A range of feeders are available on the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust website.

Don’t forget the water – it’s a joy to watch birds drinking and having a good splash in the warmer sunshine. Options include birdbaths as well as dishes on the ground for smaller birds and hedgehogs just emerging from hibernation.

Fancy a little more colour? Wildflowers are a vital source of nectar for insects no matter how much space you have – grow some in a pot in your back garden, leave a patch of your lawn to go wild or select plants and shrubs that will have attractive seed heads later in the year. Try to resist removing dandelion flowers which provide a welcome drink for emerging bees

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Bucket or container ponds require much less space and work than a traditional pond whilst attracting the same variety of exciting garden wildlife – you just need to make sure you keep it topped up! Bog gardens are good similar alternatives for families with small children.

A water butt is an easy and cost-effective way to keep your garden water features topped up with natural rainwater whilst saving on your water bills – and can be particularly invaluable for your garden and its wildlife during drought.

We’ve lost a third of our urban hedgehogs since 2000 – so they need all the help they can get. If you know you have hedgehogs in your local area, make sure to leave them some food – wet or dry meat-based dog or cat food is best. A wildlife camera trap is a great way of finding out what creatures visit your garden at night!

Wildest

Gardens with slightly more space to bloom can become a pollinator heaven and haven. Plant a native fruit tree such as apple, pear, damson or cherry for rewards both you and your local pollinating insects can benefit from. Alternatively, ensure a wide range of flowering bushes and shrubs, including those that bear berries, to cater to the widest possible range of local wildlife. You could pick out some early spring flowers such as primroses and aconite, winter flowers such as snowdrops and hellebores, or night-flowering plants like jasmine and honeysuckle to attract wildlife year-round.

Finally, if you have lots of space to play with, consider making a wildlife pond. Nearly 70 percent of ponds have been lost from the UK countryside, so your garden pond could end up supporting a huge range of wildlife from newts to damselflies.      

Yorkshire Wildlife Trust have launched a Wildlife Gardening Award to inspire people to do more for wildlife in their gardens. This award recognises the valuable contribution that gardeners are already making, and encourages keen wildlife gardeners across Yorkshire to share what they are doing and the positive impact they are having.

The Trust is welcoming applications from everyone, no matter how large or small their garden is – as well as gardens in community spaces, schools, workplaces, care homes… in fact, any type of garden you can think of!