8 ways to increase biodiversity in a garden

4. Focus on soil health

While we’re on the subject of soil, there are several things you can do to improve its health throughout your garden. Top of the list is to simply leave it alone. Constantly digging at soil is bad news for biodiversity as it disrupts mineral balance and the bugs that live within it. Less soil disturbance also means less soil erosion and damage from the sun, wind and rain.

Give your soil a boost by using good quality mulch or compost. Better yet, create your own compost heap. Creating a compost heap in your garden from kitchen waste is a great way to reduce what goes to landfill and will create a haven for minibeasts, such as millipedes, woodlice and spiders, which are an excellent source of food for other wildlife. Homemade compost also attracts worms, which improve soil drainage and transfer important nutrients to the surface.

If you do create a compost heap, be aware that it can be attractive to hibernating wildlife, including hedgehogs, so avoid moving it around during the winter months.

Another word on soil health: avoid peat. Peat is popular with gardeners because of its natural ability to retain moisture and oxygen without becoming waterlogged, and its ability to safeguard seedlings from fungal disease. However, it is sourced from peatbogs that play an incredibly important role in sequestering carbon, mitigating flood risks and providing a vital habitat to rare plant and animal species. These benefits are lost when peatbogs are mined and the consequences are significant. According to Friends of the Earth, losing just 5% of UK peatland carbon would be the equivalent of the UK’s entire annual greenhouse gas emissions. As such, the UK government has confirmed that all peat-based gardening products will be banned by 2030.

5. Add a water feature

Providing a source of water is a great way to support birds, small animals, insects and amphibians – all of which play an important role in keeping garden ecosystems thriving. Even bees appreciate a drink on a warm day!

A small pond is ideal, but even a dish or bowl will do the trick. Make sure to refresh the water regularly, and make sure whichever structure you use has sloping slides so if creatures fall in, they can get out. You could also add a few rocks or corks to give birds and bugs somewhere to rest.

6. Keep it chemical-free

Pesticides, herbicides and even chemical-based fertilisers all do damage to wildlife, but that doesn’t mean your garden has to be at the mercy of pests and invasive species.

By ensuring your garden has as much variety as possible no one species is able to take control, while thriving habitats attract insects and birds looking for tasty pests to feed on. Frogs also hoover up aphids, as do ladybirds, which can be encouraged into the garden with nettles.

‘Companion planting’ is another tried-and-tested way of managing pests naturally. Planting companion plants among other plants can help them to grow by either attracting beneficial insects, repelling pests, or by acting as a sacrificial plant to lure insects away. Snails (like ladybirds) are big fans of nettles, for example, so include this plant in your garden to lure snails away from other areas. Chives, onions and garlic, meanwhile, are widely reported to have a repellent effect on many bugs. 

7. Nature at night time

Our gardens see a huge amount of activity at night time – just because the sun’s gone down doesn’t mean biodiversity gets put on pause.

Bats are frequent garden visitors after dark. By planting night-blooming flowers such as honeysuckle and primrose you can attract night-flying insects that will provide bats with a tasty meal. Reducing or removing artificial lighting will also help bats to keep their night vision and avoid impact with obstacles.

Hedgehogs are other important night time visitors that help keep the garden ecosystem balanced. Consider investing in a hedgehog house to give them somewhere to hibernate safely, and talk to neighbours about adding a hedgehog hole to fences and walls to give them free access to roam.

8. Add some extras

Additional features that help biodiversity to thrive include:

• An old rotting log pile tucked away in the shade provides the perfect home for insects and fungi.
• A piece of corrugated iron situated somewhere shady provides cover for toads, lizards and snakes.
• Bird boxes, bat boxes and bug hotels give animals and insects somewhere safe to nest.
• Bird feeders are especially important during the winter months, with the type of food you put out affecting the species that visit your garden. Mealworms are popular with insect eaters such as sparrows, for example, while niger seeds are particularly appealing to goldfinches.