Gardens and allotments
Although individual gardens and allotments are small, collectively they provide a sizeable habitat for wildlife, covering an estimated 3% of the land surface of England and Wales. Gardens and allotments are becoming increasingly important as a refuge for wildlife in an intensively managed countryside. They provide a range of habitats such a ponds, trees, hedgerows, flower beds, compost heaps and lawns. These varied habitats are used by birds such as song thrushes, wrens and robins and they are important for hedgehogs, frogs and toads, pipestrelle bats, and some species of butterfly and bumblebee. The value of any individual garden for wildlife will depend on its size, age, location and management. A garden with high plant diversity, plenty of cover and areas where wild plants are allowed to flourish, has the potential to attract and support a wide range of plants and animals.
Wildlife friendly gardening practices, such as cutting out chemical pesticides and creating wildlife friendly habitats and leaving undisturbed areas can increase the wildlife potential of gardens, whereas practices such as paving and gravelling areas and manicured lawns and neat flower borders can limit the wildlife potential.
Gardens and allotments are the areas where most people really can make a difference to local biodiversity by gardening with wildlife in mind.
