9. Go for natural homes and resources

Look at the habitats adjacent to your garden and try to complement and enhance them. This will help to ensure there are enough resources to support the species you are trying to attract. It is rare that a single garden can offer all a species needs, but your neighbourhood as a whole could provide resources collectively. It's always better to provide natural habitat in gardens rather than artificial homes, but if you do go for a man-made home, think about whether the wildlife has access to the materials they need to line nests or burrows, or enough food and water to feed parents and their young.

Nature Street examples:

  • Bird boxes will be unlikely to attract occupants if you place them in a concrete courtyard with no food or water nearby.
  • A native hedge is always a better home and food source in a garden then an artificial home - why not remove your fence and add a hedge instead?
  • Mammal homes need to be placed in sheltered locations where there is lots of access to bedding material like old leaves and grass cuttings.
  • Feeding the birds is a great way to get closer to wildlife, but the food you put out can’t provide all the natural proteins and vitamins that healthy birds need. Remember to provide natural foods by planting berry and seed-rich plants.

Posted in: Nature Street on 09 July 2015


Back to the in your garden homepage

Time Δ Debug Message - Perch Runway 3.2
1787562373.77670 [907] SELECT p.pagePath, pr.routePattern, pr.routeRegExp, p.pageTemplate, pr.routeOrder, s.settingValue AS siteOffline FROM swt_pages_staging p LEFT JOIN swt_page_routes pr ON p.pageID=pr.pageID LEFT JOIN swt_settings s ON s.settingID='siteOffline' UNION SELECT NULL AS pagePath, pr2.routePattern, pr2.routeRegExp, pr2.templatePath AS pageTemplate, pr2.routeOrder, NULL AS siteOffline FROM swt_page_routes pr2 WHERE templateID!=0 ORDER BY routeOrder ASC, pagePath ASC
1787562373.81030.0336Matched route: discover/in-your-garden/article/[i:id]
1787562373.81040.0001Server address: 216.73.217.165
1787562373.81040Using master page: /templates/pages/in-your-garden/post.php
1787562373.81040Page arguments: 
Array
(
    [0] => /discover/in-your-garden/article/148
    [id] => 148
    [1] => 148
)
1787562373.81070.0003 [1] SELECT * FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/discover/in-your-garden/article' LIMIT 1
1787562373.81160.001 [86] SELECT DISTINCT settingID, settingValue FROM swt_settings WHERE userID=0
1787562373.81340.0017 [1] SELECT * FROM swt_shop_cart WHERE cartID=24429762
1787562373.8140.0006 [1] SELECT * FROM swt_shop_cart WHERE cartID=24429762
1787562373.81460.0006 [nil] SELECT * FROM swt_shop_sales WHERE saleFrom<='2026-08-24 09:06:00' AND saleTo>'2026-08-24 09:06:00' AND saleActive=1 AND saleDeleted IS NULL ORDER BY saleOrder ASC
1787562373.81560.001 [1] SELECT collectionID, collectionTemplate FROM swt_collections WHERE collectionKey='Wildcall'
1787562373.81630.0007 [1] SELECT * FROM ( SELECT idx.itemID, ci.collectionID, ci.itemJSON, idx2.indexValue as sortval FROM swt_collection_index idx JOIN swt_collection_items ci ON idx.itemID=ci.itemID AND idx.itemRev=ci.itemRev AND idx.collectionID=ci.collectionID JOIN swt_collection_revisions cr ON idx.itemID=cr.itemID AND idx.itemRev=cr.itemRev AND idx.collectionID=ci.collectionID JOIN swt_collection_index idx2 ON idx.itemID=idx2.itemID AND idx.itemRev=idx2.itemRev AND idx2.indexKey='_order' WHERE (idx.collectionID=5) AND ((idx.indexKey='_id' AND idx.indexValue=148)) AND idx.itemID=idx2.itemID AND idx.itemRev=idx2.itemRev ) as tbl GROUP BY itemID, itemJSON, sortval ORDER BY sortval ASC
1787562373.82310.0067Using template: /templates/content/wildcall.html
1787562373.82320.0002 [1] Using sub-template: /templates/content/mixed_content.html
1787562373.82340.0002Using sub-template: /templates/content/text_block.html
1787562373.82350Using sub-template: /templates/content/thumbnails.html
1787562373.82350Using sub-template: /templates/content/image.html
1787562373.82350Using sub-template: /templates/content/gallery.html
1787562373.82360Using sub-template: /templates/content/video.html
1787562373.82360Using sub-template: /templates/content/ask_inline.html
1787562373.82370Using sub-template: /templates/content/legacy_request_form.html
1787562373.82370Using sub-template: /templates/content/image.html
1787562373.82370Using sub-template: /templates/content/code_block.html
1787562373.82370Using sub-template: /templates/content/customisable_donate_form.html
1787562373.82380Using sub-template: /templates/content/contact_form.html
1787562373.82390.0001Using sub-template: /templates/forms/details.html
1787562373.8240Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_data_protection.html
1787562373.8240.0001Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_personal_details.html
1787562373.82410.0001Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_address.html
1787562373.82410Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_personal_details.html
1787562373.82420Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_address.html
1787562373.82420Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_data_protection.html
1787562373.82420Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_personal_details.html
1787562373.82430 [1] Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_data_protection.html
1787562373.82620.0019 [1] SELECT * FROM swt_categories ORDER BY catTreePosition ASC
1787562373.82970.0035 [162] SELECT catID, catPath FROM swt_categories
1787562373.83110.0014 [250] SELECT country, countryID FROM swt_shop_countries WHERE countryActive=1 ORDER BY country ASC
1787562373.83280.0017Using template: /templates/pages/attributes/seo.html
1787562373.83310.0003 [nil] SELECT regionID, regionTemplate, regionPage, regionRev AS rev FROM swt_content_regions WHERE regionKey='Banner image' AND (regionPage='/discover/in-your-garden/article' OR regionPage='*')
1787562373.8340.0009No matching content regions found. Check region name (Banner image) and page path options.
1787562373.8340 [nil] SELECT * FROM ( SELECT idx.itemID, c.regionID, idx.pageID, c.itemJSON, idx2.indexValue as sortval FROM swt_content_index idx JOIN swt_content_items c ON idx.itemID=c.itemID AND idx.itemRev=c.itemRev AND idx.regionID=c.regionID JOIN swt_content_index idx2 ON idx.itemID=idx2.itemID AND idx.itemRev=idx2.itemRev AND idx2.indexKey='_order' WHERE idx.regionID IS NULL AND idx.itemID=idx2.itemID AND idx.itemRev=idx2.itemRev ) as tbl GROUP BY itemID, pageID, itemJSON, sortval, regionID ORDER BY sortval ASC
1787562373.83520.0011 [82] SELECT * FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageNew=0 AND pageHidden=0 AND pageDepth >=0 AND pageDepth<=2 ORDER BY pageTreePosition ASC
1787562373.83940.0043 [1] SELECT pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/discover/in-your-garden/article' LIMIT 1
1787562373.84020.0008 [4] SELECT pageID FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition IN ('000-003-003-001-002', '000-003-003-001', '000-003-003', '000-003', '000') ORDER BY pageTreePosition DESC
1787562373.84320.003Using template: /templates/navigation/ps_nav_template.html
1787562373.84320 [6] Using template: /templates/navigation/ps_nav_template_children.html
1787562373.84410.0008 [4] Using template: /templates/navigation/ps_nav_template_children.html
1787562373.84450.0005 [29] Using template: /templates/navigation/ps_nav_template_children.html
1787562373.84730.0027 [10] Using template: /templates/navigation/ps_nav_template_children.html
1787562373.84840.0011 [7] Using template: /templates/navigation/ps_nav_template_children.html
1787562373.84960.0012 [9] Using template: /templates/navigation/ps_nav_template_children.html
1787562373.85220.0026 [0] SELECT setID FROM swt_category_sets WHERE setSlug='' LIMIT 1
1787562373.8530.0008 [1] SELECT main.* FROM swt_categories main WHERE 1=1 AND (catPath='wildcall/nature-street/') ORDER BY catTreePosition ASC
1787562373.85420.0011 [1] Using template: /templates/categories/wildcall_banner.html
1787562373.85580.0016 [1] SELECT * FROM ( SELECT idx.itemID, ci.collectionID, ci.itemJSON, idx2.indexValue as sortval FROM swt_collection_index idx JOIN swt_collection_items ci ON idx.itemID=ci.itemID AND idx.itemRev=ci.itemRev AND idx.collectionID=ci.collectionID JOIN swt_collection_revisions cr ON idx.itemID=cr.itemID AND idx.itemRev=cr.itemRev AND idx.collectionID=ci.collectionID JOIN swt_collection_index idx2 ON idx.itemID=idx2.itemID AND idx.itemRev=idx2.itemRev AND idx2.indexKey='_order' WHERE (idx.collectionID=5) AND ((idx.indexKey='_id' AND idx.indexValue=148)) AND idx.itemID=idx2.itemID AND idx.itemRev=idx2.itemRev ) as tbl GROUP BY itemID, itemJSON, sortval ORDER BY sortval ASC
1787562373.86690.0111Using template: /templates/content/wildcall.html
1787562373.8670.0001 [1] Using sub-template: /templates/content/mixed_content.html
1787562373.86710.0001Using sub-template: /templates/content/text_block.html
1787562373.86710Using sub-template: /templates/content/thumbnails.html
1787562373.86720Using sub-template: /templates/content/image.html
1787562373.86720Using sub-template: /templates/content/gallery.html
1787562373.86720Using sub-template: /templates/content/video.html
1787562373.86720Using sub-template: /templates/content/ask_inline.html
1787562373.86730Using sub-template: /templates/content/legacy_request_form.html
1787562373.86730Using sub-template: /templates/content/image.html
1787562373.86730Using sub-template: /templates/content/code_block.html
1787562373.86730Using sub-template: /templates/content/customisable_donate_form.html
1787562373.86740Using sub-template: /templates/content/contact_form.html
1787562373.86750.0001Using sub-template: /templates/forms/details.html
1787562373.86750.0001Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_data_protection.html
1787562373.86760.0001Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_personal_details.html
1787562373.86760Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_address.html
1787562373.86760Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_personal_details.html
1787562373.86770Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_address.html
1787562373.86770Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_data_protection.html
1787562373.86770Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_personal_details.html
1787562373.86770 [1] Using sub-template: /templates/forms/_data_protection.html
1787562373.86920.0015 [1] SELECT * FROM swt_categories ORDER BY catTreePosition ASC
1787562373.87470.0055 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/what-we-do' OR pageSortPath='/what-we-do' LIMIT 1
1787562373.87580.001 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition='000-002' LIMIT 1
1787562373.87650.0008 [7] SELECT * FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageNew=0 AND pageHidden=0 AND pageTreePosition LIKE '000-002%' AND pageDepth >=1 AND pageDepth<=2 ORDER BY pageTreePosition ASC
1787562373.87980.0033 [1] SELECT pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/discover/in-your-garden/article' LIMIT 1
1787562373.88760.0078 [4] SELECT pageID FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition IN ('000-003-003-001-002', '000-003-003-001', '000-003-003', '000-003', '000') ORDER BY pageTreePosition DESC
1787562373.89050.0029 [6] Using template: /templates/navigation/footer-nav.html
1787562373.89130.0008 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/make-a-difference' OR pageSortPath='/make-a-difference' LIMIT 1
1787562373.89220.0009 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition='000-005' LIMIT 1
1787562373.89270.0005 [38] SELECT * FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageNew=0 AND pageHidden=0 AND pageTreePosition LIKE '000-005%' ORDER BY pageTreePosition ASC
1787562373.89590.0032 [1] SELECT pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/discover/in-your-garden/article' LIMIT 1
1787562373.89660.0007 [4] SELECT pageID FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition IN ('000-003-003-001-002', '000-003-003-001', '000-003-003', '000-003', '000') ORDER BY pageTreePosition DESC
1787562373.89930.0028 [10] Using template: /templates/navigation/footer-nav.html
1787562373.9030.0036 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/visit' OR pageSortPath='/visit' LIMIT 1
1787562373.90380.0008 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition='000-004' LIMIT 1
1787562373.90440.0006 [30] SELECT * FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageNew=0 AND pageHidden=0 AND pageTreePosition LIKE '000-004%' AND pageDepth >=1 AND pageDepth<=2 ORDER BY pageTreePosition ASC
1787562373.90770.0033 [1] SELECT pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/discover/in-your-garden/article' LIMIT 1
1787562373.90840.0007 [4] SELECT pageID FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition IN ('000-003-003-001-002', '000-003-003-001', '000-003-003', '000-003', '000') ORDER BY pageTreePosition DESC
1787562373.9110.0026 [29] Using template: /templates/navigation/footer-nav.html
1787562373.91350.0024 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/make-a-difference' OR pageSortPath='/make-a-difference' LIMIT 1
1787562373.91430.0009 [1] SELECT pageID, pageParentID, pageDepth, pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition='000-005' LIMIT 1
1787562373.91490.0006 [11] SELECT * FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageNew=0 AND pageHidden=0 AND pageTreePosition LIKE '000-005%' AND pageDepth >=1 AND pageDepth<=2 ORDER BY pageTreePosition ASC
1787562373.91810.0031 [1] SELECT pageTreePosition FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pagePath='/discover/in-your-garden/article' LIMIT 1
1787562373.91880.0007 [4] SELECT pageID FROM swt_pages_staging WHERE pageTreePosition IN ('000-003-003-001-002', '000-003-003-001', '000-003-003', '000-003', '000') ORDER BY pageTreePosition DESC
1787562373.92170.0029 [10] Using template: /templates/navigation/footer-nav.html
1787562373.92350.0018Request time: 0.1477
1787562373.92360Process time: 0.1476
1787562373.92360Memory: 1.7762