#TuesdayTips - How to create a wildlife-friendly garden

New homeowners in Northamptonshire are being encouraged to give nature a home in their new garden this autumn following the launch of a partnership between five star housebuilder Barratt Homes and the RSPB.

Barratt Homes Northampton has teamed up with the conservation charity to give its customers four top tips this autumn on how they can keep their garden wildlife friendly to encourage them to do their bit for nature.

The cool tips and tricks on what to do as the seasons change are fun for all of the family and have been carefully selected by Barratt Homes Northampton to fit around a small budget and to take less than two hours.

So if you want to do a little bit to help preserve Britain’s wildlife or you want to transform your garden for all of nature to enjoy this season, Barratt Homes Northampton and the RSPB have got you covered.

1. Open up your very own bird café

A fantastic way for new homeowners to invite wildlife into their garden is by opening up a bird café to attract all kinds of colourful feathered friends. You can do this easily by investing in a bird feeder or a roofed bird table and getting a mixture of seeds, fruits, nuts and oats to put in them.

Different types of birds prefer different types of food, so if you’re looking to have variety in your garden, be sure to pick up an assortment of bird food. Other than topping up the bird feed when it’s empty and making sure you clean your feeders often, you can sit back, relax and enjoy your very own wildlife show in the comfort of your garden. 

Alison Raine, sales director at Barratt Homes Northampton said: “We’ve chosen the bird café as our absolute top tip because I think it’s a great way for new homeowners to add a bit of wildlife and colour to their gardens without having to spend hours on it.

“This is the perfect activity to take part in if you’re looking for something easy to do that you can enjoy all year round. Birds are fascinating creatures and we, as a country, should treasure them and be able to appreciate their mesmerising behaviours up close.”

2. Make a butterfly banquet from your leftovers

Autumn butterflies like red admirals, painted ladies and comma butterflies require sugary treats every so often this season so homeowners can help them feast by putting mushy bananas in a sheltered chest high place in their garden for them to enjoy. This top tip requires little effort and is perfect for homeowners looking to add an extra splash of colour to their new garden. As the mashed up banana ferments, the stunning butterflies should pay you a visit and whilst they are enjoying their treat they can stay in your garden for hours on end.

3. Create a safe hideaway by building a wildlife hotel

As we move out of summer and the colder weather draws in for autumn, more ambitious homeowners might want to try building a safe hideaway for bugs and creepy crawlies to live in. Build a stable structure out of a couple of old wooden pallets. Using plant pots, straw, old roof tiles, sticks and logs, you can provide many different holes, spaces, tunnels and cosy beds for all types of wildlife to climb into to keep them safe.

5. Create a hedgehog highway and connect with your neighbours

Autumn is a busy time of year for a lot of wildlife as they prepare for the cooler months, and hedgehogs are no exception as they start planning for hibernation. By creating a hedgehog highway and making a safe ‘corridor’ in your fence for the little critters to move through, it’s a great way to connect with your neighbours and give nature a home at the same time. The hole in the fence will help to protect the hedgehogs, which walk up to a mile a night, from other animals and help them find the perfect spot to hibernate.

For a simple step-by-step guide to each of these activities, visit the RSPB's Giving Nature a Home pages at www.rspb.org.uk/homes

Adrian Thomas, the RSPB's wildlife gardening expert, said: "There is a greater recognition these days that Britain's gardens can be a haven for wildlife - all it takes is a bit of know-how. Given that wildlife is struggling, it is such a rewarding thing to do, and can bring us all huge pleasure, too."