Horticulture and wildlife go hand in hand. Encouraging wildlife in the garden and choosing plantings that create habitats for a variety of species is a way of deepen our connection to nature. Discover a selection of RHS Partner Gardens that have transformed their outdoor spaces into thriving havens for wildlife.
Doddington Hall & Gardens, Lincoln
A new wildlife cutting garden by floral artist Rachel Petheram of Catkin Flowers is the latest addition to Doddington Hall & Gardens.
The original cutting garden consisted of some permanent planting of herbs and roses, with the main productive elements being annuals and dahlias. However, “as the wilder project at Doddington took off, I was hugely inspired by the changes made on the estate and decided that I wanted my cutting garden to encompass the wilder philosophy,” said Rachel. With the help of her husband, Guy Petheram, she then began redesigning the cutting garden putting habitat at its heart.
In the new wildlife cutting garden, the planting is dense, protecting the soil and providing places for wildlife to hide. Structures built using logs and whippy stems from the estate add an architectural element and offer additional shelter. Insect ‘towers’ have been filled with materials of varying sizes from the garden – logs from the woods, apple prunings from the kitchen garden and dead stems of grasses – and reclaimed weathered oak posts with drilled holes provide nesting places for solitary bees.
“We have added water in the garden, both in a Corten steel dish and on top of the habitat towers for the birds. To our delight, we discovered a hedgehog in the garden, so will be creating a small ephemeral pool for them – and for whoever wants to use it!” said Rachel.
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Free days out for RHS members in 2025: Wednesday–Sunday, 5 February–28 September 2025 and daily, 1–31 October 2025 (excluded 26 July–7 September 2025 for Sculpture Exhibition)
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Find out more at Doddington Hall & Gardens
Home to a menagerie of animals and birds in the 18th century – including buffalo, kangaroos and even an American bear and emu – Wentworth Garden Centre is a place where you can spot fallow and red deer among other native British animals, birds and insects if you keep your eyes peeled.
Alongside its walled garden and famous snowdrop walks, Cambo Gardens is introducing new planting for wildlife in 2025. Children will enjoy searching for bugs and small creatures in the Lost Elf Village, and if they look hard enough, they may even spot the mythical wildlife creatures ‘Glingbob’ or ‘Tootflits’!
Trentham is a thriving haven for wildlife, with 182 acres of gardens forming a mosaic of different habitats, from wood pasture and lowland heathland to wet grassland. Many rare UK wildlife species can be spotted around the lakeside walks, woodlands and gardens, such as harvest mice, water voles, otters, fallow deer and weasels, along with over 80 species of birds – including dippers and kingfishers – 17 species of dragonflies and damselflies, butterflies, moths and other pollinators.
Trentham is also home to a family of beavers that live wild within Trentham Lake, which has four large wooded islands where they have privacy and space to build their lodge. The beavers help the estate manage and maintain tree cover along the lake’s margin, opening up stunning vistas across the water.
Natural Surroundings’ mission is to champion wildlife and promote wildlife-friendly gardening. Set in north Norfolk, the site boasts a rich diversity of plants and wildlife to delight and inspire.
Keep an eye out for the resident harvest mice in their special wooden chalet, originally built as an accommodation for soldiers during the First World War and now used for workshops and public events.
“Many people visit our gardens especially to see the harvest mice, whose population is poorly known in England and hard to spot in the wild,” said Simon Harrap, owner of the estate with his wife Anne – who established Natural Surroundings 35 years ago.Their goal is to promote wildlife-friendly gardening and foster an interest in UK plants. “We always try to manage the garden in a wildlife-friendly manner, so without cutting everything down,” said Simon.
“We try to encourage people not to obsessively tidy in their gardens: if you have a fairly large garden next to an open area, there is possibility that harvest mice will come to visit.”
Hestercombe provides a fantastic place for a wide variety of UK native animals to thrive. Look out for roe deer, common lizards and bats, including horseshoe, pipistrelle and brown long-eared bats, which the garden supports by planting a mixture of native shrubs and broadleaf trees. Be sure to pick up the wildlife spotting sheet when you visit!
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Free days out for RHS members in 2025: every day, 1 October–31 March 2025
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Find out more at Hestercombe Gardens
Explore the winding path, ancient woodlands and seven lakes at Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens, encountering a diverse array of wildlife, including a rare wallaby colony, over 100 free-roaming deer, carp, and many birds, such as kingfishers, wild mandarin ducks, nuthatches and treecreepers, making it a haven for nature enthusiasts.
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Free days out for RHS members in 2025: every day in January–February, July–September and December; only Monday and Tuesday in March–June and October–November 2025 (bank holiday excluded)
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Find out more at Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens
Please check the gardens’ websites before you visit, as times and access may change.