8. Think outside the box

Don’t feel that your space is too small to be valuable to wildlife - space of any size or shape has the potential to contribute. Vertical surfaces, textured walls, even bin stores and cycle sheds can all be used to create extra habitat.

Nature Street examples:

  • If space is limited, consider growing plants on any surface you have from garage walls to shed roofs, even the space on top of a bird box can be used.
  • Learn to love mud! Bare earth is an extremely valuable habitat that can be used by house martins for nest building, by solitary bees and hoverflies for egg laying and by reptiles for basking.
  • The cracks and crevices in your patio or garden path can be used to plant low-growing herbs like thyme and chamomile.
  • Garden paths and windows can be lined with window boxes filled with annuals to offer a nectaring hotspot.
  • Bird feeders can be hung on balconies over the winter months.
  • Drilling holes of varying diameter into gate posts can create nesting opportunities for solitary bees and overwintering spots for lacewings and ladybirds.


Posted in: Nature Street on 08 July 2015


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