The Wildlife

Layered, seasonal, ecologically rich

A garden that belongs to the wild things as much as to you. Designed for birds, bees, butterflies, and all the creatures that share our spaces. This is a living ecosystem in the heart of the city.

The Philosophy

Our gardens can be sanctuaries for wildlife even in urban environments. The Wildlife garden is designed as an ecosystem-planting choices made not just for aesthetics but for the creatures that depend on them.

This design prioritizes biodiversity and ecological function. We create habitat layers from ground to canopy, provide food and shelter across all seasons, and welcome the messiness that wildlife needs. The result is a garden that feels alive and connected to the natural world.

Key Features

Hedge Habitat

Mixed native hedgerow rather than fences-providing nesting sites, berries, and safe passage for wildlife through the garden.

Pond or Water Feature

Shallow margins and varied depths to support amphibians, insects, and birds. Even a small pond transforms garden biodiversity.

Wildflower Meadow Strip

Long grass with native wildflowers that provides food for pollinators and shelter for insects, voles, and hedgehogs.

Bird-Friendly Planting

Plants chosen for their berries, seeds, and insect-attracting flowers-sustaining birds through all seasons.

Log Pile Corner

A discreet stack of logs and leaf litter-habitat for beetles, solitary bees, and the insects that feed birds.

Year-Round Food

Planting succession that ensures something is flowering, fruiting, or seeding every month of the year.

The Planting Palette

The Wildlife garden uses native and wildlife-friendly plants that provide food and habitat throughout the seasons. Beauty emerges from function.

Native Trees & Shrubs

Hawthorn - Dense nesting cover, red winter berries, early nectar
Rowan - Orange autumn berries beloved by thrushes and blackbirds
Holly - Shelter and late winter berries when food is scarce
Dogwood - Stems for insects, berries for birds, great for pollinators
Buddleia - The butterfly bush-irresistible to painted ladies and peacocks

Pollinator Plants

Lavender - Summer-long nectar for bees and butterflies
Sedum - Late autumn food source when other flowers fade
Echinacea - Long-flowering, loved by bees and seed-eating birds
Verbena bonariensis - Clouds of purple, butterfly magnet
Foxgloves - Bumblebee favorites in late spring shade

Wildlife Structure

Ivy - Late flowers for insects, winter berries for birds, nesting cover
Nettle patch - If space allows, a corner for caterpillars of peacock and tortoiseshell butterflies
Long grass areas - Overwintering habitat for insects and small mammals

Layout Principles

The Wildlife garden is designed as interconnected habitat zones:

Zone 1: The Canopy Layer

Small trees and large shrubs creating the upper structure-nesting sites, perches, and berry sources. Positioned to provide dappled shade below.

Zone 2: The Understory

Mixed hedging and medium shrubs forming dense cover at 1-3 meters-safe nesting and movement corridors for birds and small mammals.

Zone 3: The Herb Layer

Flower-rich planting with succession of blooms from spring to autumn. This is the pollinator buffet and insect factory that feeds the whole food chain.

Zone 4: The Water Edge

If space allows, a pond with shallow margins planted with native marginals. Amphibians, dragonflies, and drinking birds transform the garden's life.

Zone 5: The Wild Corner

A deliberately untidy area-log pile, leaf litter, and native plants allowed to self-seed. This is where the most interesting wildlife lives.

Maintenance Level

Low to Moderate. Paradoxically, wildlife gardens require less intervention than formal ones. The "messy" corners are the most valuable habitat. Maintenance focuses on managing succession-keeping the habitat structure intact while allowing natural processes.

Key tasks: Hedge trimming outside nesting season, pond maintenance, and keeping some areas undisturbed. This is a garden for patient observers who find joy in watching life unfold.

Ready to Welcome Wildlife?

This design adapts to your space and local wildlife. We'll adjust habitat features, pond options, and planting to create the richest ecosystem possible in your garden.

Start Your Design