Attract local wildlife through Autumn and Winter
Autumn and winter are ideal times to start transforming your garden into a haven for wildlife. As the temperature drops and natural resources become scarcer, creating a space where animals, insects, and birds can find shelter, food, and water is crucial. Plus, a wildlife-friendly garden enhances biodiversity, supports the ecosystem, and brings natural beauty to your outdoor space.
Here’s how to turn your garden into a thriving sanctuary for wildlife this autumn and winter.
1. Provide Shelter with Natural Habitats
Autumn and winter are challenging times for garden creatures, with fewer places to find warmth and shelter. You can help by adding natural habitats that offer protection against the cold.
Log and Leaf Piles: As you clear fallen leaves, avoid bagging them all up. Instead, create small piles in quiet corners of your garden. Logs and leaf piles provide shelter for hedgehogs, frogs, and insects. These piles also attract decomposers like beetles and worms, which improve soil health and provide food for birds.
Install a Bug Hotel: Autumn is an ideal time to build a bug hotel. You can stack old wood, straw, twigs, and bamboo in a sheltered spot to create hiding places for insects like ladybirds and solitary bees, which hibernate over winter. Bug hotels help boost your garden’s insect population, which supports birdlife as well.
We found a great step by step video by The Royal Parks of How to build a bug hotel on YouTube.
2. Plant for Pollinators
While flowering plants tend to bloom in spring and summer, autumn and winter flowers provide essential food sources for pollinators.
Winter Flowering Plants: Adding plants like mahonia, winter-flowering heather, and ivy is a great way to support bees and other pollinators even in the colder months. Ivy, for example, flowers in late autumn and provides an abundance of nectar when other sources are limited.
Plant Native Trees and Shrubs: Native plants are highly beneficial for wildlife because they provide natural food and shelter suited to local species. Trees like rowan and holly produce berries through winter, offering food for birds and small mammals.
Explore recommended plants for pollinators on The Wildife Trusts website.
3. Set Up Bird Feeders and Baths
In the colder months, birds struggle to find food and fresh water. Setting up bird feeders and baths can make a massive difference to their survival.
Bird Feeders: Offer high-calorie foods like fat balls, sunflower seeds, and peanuts. Place feeders in safe, sheltered areas to encourage birds to visit. Regularly clean the feeders to prevent the spread of disease, especially in winter when birds rely heavily on feeders.
Bird Baths: Provide a bird bath with clean water, ideally with a shallow area for smaller birds. In freezing temperatures, check the bath regularly to ensure it doesn’t freeze over. Adding a floating ball can help keep the water moving and prevent freezing.
Birds such as robins, blackbirds, and finches can become regular winter visitors, enhancing your garden’s liveliness even in the chilliest months.
4. Create Safe Spaces for Hibernation
Several garden species hibernate to survive the winter months. By creating safe, quiet areas, you can provide a haven for creatures like hedgehogs and frogs.
Hedgehog Houses: Hedgehogs are often seen in UK gardens, but their numbers are declining. Hedgehog houses, which can be made from wood or old crates filled with dry leaves, give these nocturnal creatures a safe space to hibernate. Place the house in a quiet corner of the garden, away from disturbances.
The British Hedgehog Preservation Society offers detailed tips on building hedgehog friendly shelters.
Pond Protection: If you have a pond, leave it partially covered with plants like lily pads. This protects hibernating frogs and toads from predators. Avoid disturbing the pond bottom in winter as many amphibians burrow in the mud for warmth.
5. Leave Seed Heads and Grasses Untrimmed
While it might be tempting to cut back all plants as part of autumn clean-up, leaving some seed heads and ornamental grasses untrimmed benefits wildlife and adds visual interest.
Seed Heads for Food: Plants like echinacea, rudbeckia, and sunflowers produce seeds that can feed birds over winter. Birds such as goldfinches and sparrows rely on these seed heads as a food source.
Ornamental Grasses for Shelter: Tall grasses and perennials provide excellent shelter for insects and other small creatures. Plus, leaving these plants standing offers texture and structure to your winter garden, creating a beautiful, natural look.
6. Avoid Chemical Pesticides and Fertilisers
Chemical pesticides and fertilisers harm wildlife, especially in autumn and winter when animals and insects are more vulnerable. Opt for organic alternatives, like neem oil or homemade sprays, to protect plants without disrupting your garden’s ecosystem.
Organic gardening not only protects the creatures in your garden but also promotes healthier soil and plant growth, ultimately enhancing the overall sustainability of your garden space.
For more organic gardening ideas, check out The Soil Association.
7. Install Wildlife-Friendly Lighting
Bright lights can deter nocturnal wildlife like hedgehogs and moths. Instead, opt for soft, motion-sensor lights that only illuminate when needed. Solar-powered lights can also reduce light pollution while providing sufficient visibility in the garden.
Consider installing lights with warm tones, which are less disruptive to animals and still create a cosy ambiance for any winter gatherings in the garden.
Conclusion
Transforming your garden into a wildlife haven doesn’t have to wait until spring or summer. With the right autumn and winter preparations, you can make your garden a welcoming refuge for wildlife all year round. From planting winter-flowering shrubs to providing safe hibernation spaces, these simple steps will attract a variety of species to your garden, bringing natural beauty and biodiversity to your space.
ALS Landscaping can help you create a wildlife-friendly garden designed to support nature while adding charm and interest to your outdoor space. Contact us to discuss your vision for a sustainable, wildlife-friendly garden today.
FAQs
What plants are best for attracting wildlife in autumn and winter?
Winter-flowering plants like ivy, mahonia, and winter heather provide nectar for bees, while berry-producing shrubs like holly and rowan offer food for birds.
How can I make my garden safe for hibernating animals?
Create leaf and log piles for shelter, avoid disturbing pond areas, and consider installing a hedgehog house for hibernating hedgehogs.
Should I keep feeding birds through the winter?
Yes, setting up bird feeders with high-energy foods like fat balls and seeds can help birds survive the cold months when natural food sources are scarce.
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