Giving Nature a Home poll
Over 1,800 people answered our recent Giving Nature a Home poll, including questions about theirs and their neighbours garden. A brilliant 75% of participants agreed it is important to encourage wildlife into their gardens, but a surprising 73% hadn't spoken to their neighours in the past six months about how they can help wildlife in their garden!
Grey squirrels are commonplace in East Anglian gardens. Credit: Nigel Blake
The Big Garden Birdwatch survey back in January highlighted just how important our gardens are to threatened wildlife across the region, with many East Anglia residents sighting grey squirrels, hedgehogs, badgers and even roe deer in their very own back yards. With other species reliant on our gardens include starlings, house sparrows, bumblebees, frogs and many more.
Starlings are one of the most common birds in our gardens. Credit: Eleanor Bentall
Spread the word to save wildlife
It's in our hands to help struggling wildlife on our doorsteps. Spread the word by telling friends, family members or neighbours how giving nature a home in our gardens can benefit UK wildlife. You can reassure them you don't even need green fingers to make a difference, as there's a whole host of ways to help wildlife in your garden.
Encourage your neighbours to come together in helping wildlife. Credit: Eleanor Bentall
By joining forces with your neighbours you can secure the future of garden wildlife. It's worth it when you capture a glimpse of something special in your garden when enjoying your morning tea!
What you can do
Even those with little garden space can join forces with their local community to help. For instance, now is the perfect time to get together and plant a wild flower meadow, beneficial to pollinators and birds.
Planting wildflowers is hugely beneficial to pollinators, especially in urban areas. Credit: Andy Hay
Or how about agreeing with your neighbours to create highways and byways between your gardens so wildlife can freely move around?
Gaps in fences ensure wildlife can get about. Credit: Eleanor Bentall
The coming Autumn is also a great time to leave areas of long grass, start composting or creating a wood stack 'bug hotel' to provide shelter for a whole host of animals. So, the next time you spot your neighbour over the garden fence give them a wave and spread the word about how giving nature a home can protect wildlife.
A bug hotel can be easily created used scrap materials. Credit: Eleanor Bentall
Get inspired
Keep an eye out for the latest RSPB Giving Nature a Home TV advert which shows no matter how big or small your outdoor space is, there is something we can all do to help wildlife.
Visit our website for even more ideas on how to give nature a home.
Get inspired by visiting RSPB Flatford Wildlife Gardens which has a fantastic Giving Nature a Home exhibition and is a great example of a garden for wildlife.