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Wildlife gardens continue to grow in popularity, with many people across the UK  realising just how much enjoyment can come from creating a mini nature reserve in their outdoor living space. For people fortunate enough to have a decent sized garden, the options for turning some of it over to wildlife are almost endless. But for those with a small garden space, or even a tiny one, the options can seem limited to the point of being off-putting. However, even the smallest of gardens can become a home to wildlife, so here we take you through some key considerations and offer advice on what can be done.

Start by considering how you and your family want and need to use the space 

The starting point of planning a small wildlife garden isn’t actually to think about planting and what species of bird etc. can be attracted, but instead to cover-off the practical requirements for you and your family. So everything from somewhere to sit and relax to where the washing line goes should be considered and agreed, as once that’s done it helps determine available space for the main job in hand. 

Think vertical habitat 

Although you might be limited for space when it comes to square metres, vertical space will inevitably be less of an issue. For example, a fence or wall might actually represent a fair amount of surface area, with this then inviting habitat to be created on it. There are a number of ways this can be achieved, with the option which has the most potential for wildlife being climbing plants. Some types of climber such as Ivy don’t require support and will naturally cling to a fence or wall, whereas others like Honeysuckle will need a trellis or other type of frame to cling onto. 

Climbing plants are typically great for wildlife in four main ways:

The flowers provide nectar for bees and other pollinating species of insects. 

Many types of climber form berries in late summer and autumn, with these providing food for species of bird such as Blackbird.

Once climbers are established, they can provide a thick and very usable habitat for nesting and roosting birds such as Wrens.

Established climbing plants will also harbour plenty of insects which in turn become food for birds.

There are lots of different climbing plants to choose from, with our favourites being:

  • Ivy (Hedera helix) is a fantastic addition to any wildlife garden, though is perhaps better grown up a fence rather than a wall which it might damage over time. Ivy is also a good option for a shady and north-facing aspect.   
  • Clematis comes in many cultivated varieties, though our native Clematis is called Vitalba and requires a sunny or slightly shaded spot with a rich alkaline soil. 
  • Climbing Hydrangea is another one which doesn’t require support, as it will cling to a wall or fence. The flowers are especially attractive, with the foliage providing plenty of shade and cover for birds – in fact we’ve even seen a pair of Song thrushes nest in Climbing Hydrangea. 
  • Honeysuckle is another excellent climber, and also has small berries which are eaten by a number of birds including Blackcaps. 
  • Pyracantha can take some managing to keep it in shape and stop it spreading too far out from a fence or wall, but if you’re happy to do that then it has lovely white flowers in the spring and bright red berries in the autumn. It’s also an evergreen so provides attractive foliage even in the winter months. 

Of course you don’t have to limit yourself to one type of climber, and even on a relatively short space of wall or fence you might be able to fit in four or five different ones. 

A further option for vertical surfaces is to hang planters and baskets from them, and provided they’re kept watered then even wild flowers will grow in them. 

Use fences and walls for bug hotels, bee boxes and bird boxes 

Fences and walls can also be used for bug hotels, bee boxes and bird boxes, with the latter always best positioned in the shade such as an east-facing aspect – see here for more details and to watch a short video. For bug hotels, these need a combination of sun and shade, with bee boxes needing plenty of sun – so position in a south-facing aspect.  

Build a habitat pile up rather than out 

A habitat pile is a stack of logs, branches, leaves and other garden waste that provides a home for invertebrates and potentially amphibians like Toads as well. Habitat piles also become a great place for birds like Dunnock and Robin to feed, because of the insects and other invertebrates they harbour. The problem is that a habitat pile can take up a lot of space, so the trick in a small garden is to hammer a few tall stakes into the ground close to a fence or wall, then create the pile between the stakes and the fence or wall – with this meaning you can build up rather than out and the branches etc. won’t fall over. 

Bird baths and vertical water features 

A bird bath takes up very little space so this is certainly an option, but another idea is a vertical water feature. This needs to be of a design where birds – and indeed insects like bees – are able to access the water at some point as it circulates, but there are plenty available in garden centres and online which are suitable. 

Encourage neighbours to get involved 

If your garden is small, then chances are that your surrounding neighbours will also have the same sort of size of outdoor space. So if they do, and even if they have more, then collaborating with them for the benefit of wildlife is the way to go. You can share information on best practice; cut holes in the bases of fences to allow Hedgehogs to pass between gardens; plant trees closer to boundaries in the knowledge that nobody is going to complain. And of course, birds don’t recognise the precious boundaries that determine our land from that of our neighbours, so a coordinated approach which benefits those birds and other wildlife can make a huge and tangible difference – and also for the quality of life for the people that made it happen.