Gardening for Wildlife. How to attract wildlife. Is your garden part of the ecosystem?

To create a healthy, balanced ecosystem in your garden, start by planting various plants, especially native ones. Consider planting trees and hedgerows if you have space. It's essential to continuously manage and adjust your garden, adding new plants when necessary, to enhance biodiversity over time.

Untidy areas are very beneficial for wildlife. They can become habitats for various creatures, including insects, birds, mammals such as hedgehogs, and amphibians like frogs and toads. The less manicured and more natural areas provide crucial shelter and resources.

To address an overpopulation of slugs, avoid using slug pellets as they can harm other wildlife that eat slugs. Instead, attract animals that naturally feed on slugs, like hedgehogs, slow worms, and certain birds, to create a natural balance without the need for pesticides.

It can take several years to establish a thriving ecosystem in your garden. It involves ongoing processes and fine adjustments, but with patience and continuous effort, the ecosystem will become healthier and more diverse over time.

An ecosystem is an area where plants, animals, and organisms interact with each other and with their environment to form a bubble of life. It includes both biotic (living things) and abiotic (non-living elements like air, temperature, soil, minerals, and rocks) factors.

The reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone National Park after 70 years led to a decrease in the overpopulated elk numbers and a move away from areas where wolves hunted. This allowed grasslands, plants, and forests to recover, birds returned, rivers narrowed, and the overall ecosystem improved significantly.