Wildlife gardening

Sharing our outdoor spaces with nature brings us joy, improves wellbeing and provides critical habitat and resources for wildlife. It’s easy to create a haven for biodiversity, whatever size your space. Our expert scientists and horticulturists share all you need to know to make a wildlife garden

Quick ways to help wildlife



Wildlife news

New role to help increase biodiversity in gardens

Bringing nature into people's lives through...

Help hoverflies: best plants and fun facts

Help these vital pollinators with 5 top plants

Help blackbirds as new virus threatens to decimate numbers

Usutu virus: here’s what you can do to help

New role to help increase biodiversity in gardens

Bringing nature into people's lives through...

Help hoverflies: best plants and fun facts

Help these vital pollinators with 5 top plants

Help blackbirds as new virus threatens to decimate numbers

Usutu virus: here’s what you can do to help

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What the experts are doing

Chop and drop: all you need to know

It benefits wildlife and the gardener alike. Is this the composting technique where everyone wins?

The Nest at RHS Wisley

A sustainable design feature for people, plants and the planet

Hedgehog-friendly gardening

How to help hedgehogs in your garden

How to create wildlife habitats

How to garden for wildlife

Become a hoverfly hero!

These vital but often overlooked pollinators are the focus of our Wild About Gardens campaign for 2025, in partnership with The Wildlife Trusts. Find out more and get involved here.


Help hoverflies

Plants for wildlife

Wildlife gardening projects

Tales from the Gardens

What are our horticulturists doing for wildlife? Easy things to try at home

“We’ve boosted habitat throughout the Garden with purpose-built structures. We’ve made or installed a range of bird boxes – and we’ve had kestrels nesting in a barn owl box, a barn owl roosting in the kestrel box, and two broods of swallows. We made nine hedgehog boxes, installed across the Garden, and have bat boxes, log piles and habitat towers made from prunings.”– James Hall, horticultural team leader at RHS Bridgewater

Bird boxes, RHS Bridgewater

“We’ve boosted habitat throughout the Garden with purpose-built structures. We’ve made or installed a range of bird boxes – and we’ve had kestrels nesting in a barn owl box, a barn owl roosting in the kestrel box, and two broods of swallows. We made nine hedgehog boxes, installed across the Garden, and have bat boxes, log piles and habitat towers made from prunings.”

– James Hall, horticultural team leader at RHS Bridgewater

“We had some old curved roof tiles, which I used to make amphibian houses in a damp, shady spot in the border next to the pond. I sunk the edges into the ground to create a domed shelter and covered the curved roof in soil and moss to help it blend in. This will provide habitat for amphibians such as frogs, toads and newts. You can do the same with a damaged terracotta pot, sinking any broken edges into the ground.”– Ben Howard, horticulturist at RHS Hyde Hall

Toad Hall, RHS Hyde Hall

“We had some old curved roof tiles, which I used to make amphibian houses in a damp, shady spot in the border next to the pond. I sunk the edges into the ground to create a domed shelter and covered the curved roof in soil and moss to help it blend in. This will provide habitat for amphibians such as frogs, toads and newts. You can do the same with a damaged terracotta pot, sinking any broken edges into the ground.”

– Ben Howard, horticulturist at RHS Hyde Hall

“These are reclaimed fence posts that had been used elsewhere in the garden and had become bent. I drilled various size holes into them, 2-10mm across and 10-15cm deep. I placed them in the border in a way that draws the eye through to the gazebo beyond. There was interest within three days and by two weeks later, holes were inhabited. Build it and they will come.”– Sarah Wilson-Frost, horticulturist at RHS Hyde Hall

Bee posts, RHS Hyde Hall

“These are reclaimed fence posts that had been used elsewhere in the garden and had become bent. I drilled various size holes into them, 2-10mm across and 10-15cm deep. I placed them in the border in a way that draws the eye through to the gazebo beyond. There was interest within three days and by two weeks later, holes were inhabited. Build it and they will come.”

– Sarah Wilson-Frost, horticulturist at RHS Hyde Hall

“We’ve boosted habitat throughout the Garden with purpose-built structures. We’ve made or installed a range of bird boxes – and we’ve had kestrels nesting in a barn owl box, a barn owl roosting in the kestrel box, and two broods of swallows. We made nine hedgehog boxes, installed across the Garden, and have bat boxes, log piles and habitat towers made from prunings.”– James Hall, horticultural team leader at RHS Bridgewater

Bird boxes, RHS Bridgewater

“We’ve boosted habitat throughout the Garden with purpose-built structures. We’ve made or installed a range of bird boxes – and we’ve had kestrels nesting in a barn owl box, a barn owl roosting in the kestrel box, and two broods of swallows. We made nine hedgehog boxes, installed across the Garden, and have bat boxes, log piles and habitat towers made from prunings.”

– James Hall, horticultural team leader at RHS Bridgewater

“We had some old curved roof tiles, which I used to make amphibian houses in a damp, shady spot in the border next to the pond. I sunk the edges into the ground to create a domed shelter and covered the curved roof in soil and moss to help it blend in. This will provide habitat for amphibians such as frogs, toads and newts. You can do the same with a damaged terracotta pot, sinking any broken edges into the ground.”– Ben Howard, horticulturist at RHS Hyde Hall

Toad Hall, RHS Hyde Hall

“We had some old curved roof tiles, which I used to make amphibian houses in a damp, shady spot in the border next to the pond. I sunk the edges into the ground to create a domed shelter and covered the curved roof in soil and moss to help it blend in. This will provide habitat for amphibians such as frogs, toads and newts. You can do the same with a damaged terracotta pot, sinking any broken edges into the ground.”

– Ben Howard, horticulturist at RHS Hyde Hall

“These are reclaimed fence posts that had been used elsewhere in the garden and had become bent. I drilled various size holes into them, 2-10mm across and 10-15cm deep. I placed them in the border in a way that draws the eye through to the gazebo beyond. There was interest within three days and by two weeks later, holes were inhabited. Build it and they will come.”– Sarah Wilson-Frost, horticulturist at RHS Hyde Hall

Bee posts, RHS Hyde Hall

“These are reclaimed fence posts that had been used elsewhere in the garden and had become bent. I drilled various size holes into them, 2-10mm across and 10-15cm deep. I placed them in the border in a way that draws the eye through to the gazebo beyond. There was interest within three days and by two weeks later, holes were inhabited. Build it and they will come.”

– Sarah Wilson-Frost, horticulturist at RHS Hyde Hall

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Common wildlife in your garden

Designer wildlife gardens

A wildlife garden by Jo Thompson

RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival 2023

A garden for bees by Joe Swift

RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2022

A garden exploring rewilding by Lulu Urquhart and Adam Hunt

RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2022

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Greener ways to garden

Peat-free gardening

Why go peat-free, and top tips for success with peat-free gardening or growing

Gardening for the environment

How to look after soil, plant for the environment, prevent pollution and more

Managing water in your garden

Advice on coping with water shortages and extreme rainfall, storing water and using it wisely

Explore more

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.