Attract Wildlife

[wildlifebeginner]

Hi, my name is Abbie. I have a garden filled with different kinds of trees and plants. We even have a wild patch of plants in the end with brambles and nettles. We live in a urban place even though the place were we live is dark and full of trees. How can I attract wildlife and what wildlife is there. By the way can you tell me how to attract hedgehogs and how to make a wood pile? THANKS!!!

[Cotham Marble]

Originally Posted by wildlifebeginner

Hi, my name is Abbie. I have a garden filled with different kinds of trees and plants. We even have a wild patch of plants in the end with brambles and nettles. We live in a urban place even though the place were we live is dark and full of trees. How can I attract wildlife and what wildlife is there. By the way can you tell me how to attract hedgehogs and how to make a wood pile? THANKS!!!

Hi Abbie,
Welcome to WAB. Can I suggest you also post this to the Wildlife Garden forum which you'll find in the Outdoor Activities section near the bottom of the main forum listings page.

It will help to know what part of the country you are in, the soil type of your garden (if you know it) which way your garden faces and the types of tree and plants that are already there.

As a broad principle you can only attract into a garden the species that are already nearby, this will depend upon where you are.

CM

[Deb London]

Hello Abbie, Welcome to WAB.

Are you able to post a picture of your garden?

You can feed hedgehogs to attract them, they might like dried hedgehog food or dried cat food. But first establish whether cats visit your garden, as they might eat the food instead. Foods that don't attract cats are cereals. Hedgehogs should start hibernating from next month, so they won't be around for much longer this year.

Do you like birds? They are easily attracted, but you might need a few pointers, like knowing to remove the netting from fat balls and where to site feeders, since you say you are a beginner.

With log piles, I think it's just a case of piling them up in a heap. I didn't know until recently that it isn't quite legal just to help yourself to logs from the woods. You could contact your local landscape gardeners or tree surgeons if you can't get enough logs from your garden. Are you interested in trying to attract Stag Beetles (if they are in your area you might be able to)? They need larger logs and I think they like them to be partially buried in the ground.

You could thing about digging a pond (better in a sunny site and with no overhanging trees). Most wildlife will apreciate this - make at least one side with a gentle slope so any hogs or other animals that fall in can get out easily.

There are loads of things you can do. The list is almost endless.

[aeshna5]

What you attract will depend where you live + the surrounding habitats + green corridors that may connect to your garden.

You mention being urban + that will restrict the species you attract, though more mobile creatures can thrive even in urban areas. Hedgehogs will need to be already in your neighbourhood for you to attract them, but they do exist in some urban areas, though more common in suburbs (though declining here too). Even if you don't get them, the practical steps outlined above will be beneficial to other creatures. There can't be too many urban areas that don't get Foxes these days!

If your garden is very dark + shady from too many trees it will restrict the amount of insect life you attract. If it's possible to create a sunny glade (appreciate this may not be practical) that will increase the wildlife potential.