This summer, hundreds of gardens across the UK are opening their gates through the National Garden Scheme, giving visitors the chance to explore beautiful outdoor spaces while raising money for good causes. Increasingly, many of these gardens have another purpose too: supporting wildlife.
From wildflower meadows and native hedgerows to ponds buzzing with dragonflies and borders full of pollinator-friendly plants, these gardens demonstrate that nature and gardening go hand in hand.
The good news? You don’t need acres of land to make a difference. Whether you have a large garden, a small courtyard, or a balcony, you can create a space that welcomes wildlife while becoming more enjoyable for you too.
Why Wildlife-Friendly Gardens Matter
The UK has lost significant areas of natural habitat over the past century. As towns and cities have expanded, many species have found it harder to find food, shelter and places to breed.
Our gardens now represent one of the country’s largest networks of green spaces. Collectively, they cover hundreds of thousands of hectares. When managed with wildlife in mind, they become stepping stones that connect parks, woodlands and nature reserves.
Every garden contributes to a much bigger picture.
How to Create Your Own Wildlife-Friendly Garden
You don’t need to redesign everything overnight. Small improvements often have the biggest long-term impact.
1. Choose More Native Plants
Native flowers, shrubs and trees have evolved alongside British wildlife. They provide food for bees, butterflies, birds and other insects throughout the year. Aim for a mixture of spring, summer and autumn flowering plants to provide a continuous source of nectar and pollen.
2. Leave Some Areas Wild
Not every corner needs to be perfectly tidy. Allow a patch of longer grass to grow, leave seed heads standing through winter, or create a small log pile. These simple habitats provide shelter for insects, amphibians and hedgehogs.
3. Add Water
Even a small container pond can become one of the most valuable habitats in your garden.
Birds need somewhere to drink and bathe, while frogs, insects and pollinators all benefit from reliable water sources.
4. Feed Pollinators
Choose flowers with open blooms that are easy for bees and butterflies to access. Avoid heavily double-flowered varieties that often contain little nectar.
5. Think Beyond the Fence
Wildlife doesn’t recognise property boundaries. Leaving small gaps under fences, planting hedges instead of solid barriers where possible, and coordinating with neighbours can help create natural wildlife corridors across entire neighbourhoods.
6. Reduce Chemicals
Many pesticides and weedkillers affect the insects that birds and other wildlife depend upon. Instead, encourage natural predators and allow nature to establish its own balance.
7. Celebrate Every Success
The first bee visiting a flower.
A blackbird nesting nearby.
Butterflies returning each summer.
These are all signs that your small actions are working.
How LettsSafari Helps
At LettsSafari, we believe that rewilding doesn’t begin with vast estates - it begins at home. Our mission is to help people make practical changes that support wildlife every day while contributing to larger restoration projects across the UK.
As a LettsSafari member you’ll receive:
Simple, practical ideas for making your outdoor space more wildlife friendly.
Seasonal guides showing what to do throughout the year.
Inspiration from successful gardens and community projects.
The knowledge that your subscription also helps support wider UK rewilding initiatives.
Together, thousands of small gardens can become one enormous nature reserve.
Start Small. Grow Naturally.
The gardens featured through the National Garden Scheme show that wildlife-friendly gardening isn’t about perfection. It’s about creating spaces where people and nature thrive together. Whether you plant one native flower, install a bird bath or let a corner grow wild, you’re helping rebuild the habitats our wildlife depends upon. Small actions, repeated by thousands of people, can transform the landscape.