Attract Pollinators and Support Nature with a Wildlife Friendly Garden

Creating a wildlife friendly garden is one of the most rewarding ways to enhance your outdoor space. Not only does it provide a haven for birds, bees, and other important creatures, but it also helps support the broader ecosystem. Whether you have a large plot or a small patio, it’s possible to make a difference and Hortiwool Garden Pads can play a key role in doing so.

Why Encourage Wildlife in the Garden?

In recent years, the decline in pollinators and other garden wildlife has raised significant concern. Bees, butterflies, hedgehogs, frogs and many birds face habitat loss due to modern landscaping, pollution, and climate change. By creating a wildlife friendly garden, you’re providing essential food, shelter and nesting opportunities, helping to reverse this trend.

Pollinators, in particular, are vital for healthy plant growth and food production. Encouraging their presence in your garden supports not only biodiversity but also benefits your fruit, vegetable and flower yields.

How Hortiwool Garden Pads Help Create a Wildlife Friendly Garden

Hortiwool Garden Pads, made from 100% natural British wool, are a versatile, sustainable product ideal for sustainable gardening. But did you know they can also help attract and support wildlife?

Here’s how:

• Moisture retention: By laying Hortiwool Garden Pads around plants or beneath pots, you help maintain soil moisture levels. This creates a more hospitable environment for worms, insects, and amphibians. Which in turn attract birds and small mammals.

• Shelter and warmth: The wool fibres provide natural insulation. This creates snug microhabitats for beetles, spiders, and even nesting birds or hibernating creatures when used in tucked-away corners or bug hotels.

• Chemical-free gardening: Because Hortiwool products are free from synthetic chemicals and plastics, they’re safe for use in spaces shared with delicate wildlife species.

• Mulching and weed suppression: Using Hortiwool Garden Pads as mulch not only protects your plants but also supports the soil ecosystem. Healthier soil means more invertebrate life. This forms the base of the food chain for many animals.

Simple Ways to Make Your Garden More Wildlife Friendly

Whether you’re starting from scratch or adding to an existing garden, here are a few ways to support more wildlife in your outdoor space:

1. Plant for Pollinators

Choose a variety of nectar-rich plants that flower at different times of year. Favourites include lavender, foxgloves, alliums, and buddleja. Native species are especially good for supporting local insects.

Use Hortiwool Garden Pads around your flower beds to help keep the soil moist during dry spells, essential for thriving pollinator plants.

2. Create Shelter

Leave a corner of your garden wild, with logs, leaves or a small compost heap to create hiding spots for insects, frogs, and hedgehogs. You can also build a bug hotel using recycled materials and line it with wool trimmings or pieces of Hortiwool Garden Pads for extra warmth.

3. Add a Water Source

A pond, even a small one, can support frogs, newts, dragonflies, and birds. Add some stones or logs nearby to create a safe space for animals to rest or climb in and out.

4. Avoid Chemicals

Pesticides and artificial fertilisers can be harmful to wildlife, especially beneficial insects. By using Hortiwool Garden Pads as a natural mulch and fertiliser (thanks to the slow release of nutrients as the wool breaks down), you can improve your soil health naturally.

Jobs to Create the Perfect Wildlife Garden

Once you’ve laid the foundations, there are plenty of other garden jobs you can do throughout the year to support wildlife:

• Spring: Install bird boxes and clean out any existing ones. Start sowing wildflower seeds and apply Hortiwool Garden Pads to new beds to lock in moisture as temperatures rise.

• Summer: Keep bird baths and ponds topped up. Leave areas of long grass uncut to support insects. Continue mulching with Hortiwool Garden Pads to reduce watering needs during hot spells.

• Autumn: Build log piles and leave leaf litter undisturbed for hibernating creatures. Harvest seeds and deadhead summer flowers, but leave some seed heads for birds.

• Winter: Check your bug hotels are dry and sheltered. Use Hortiwool Garden Pads to insulate pots and protect delicate roots. Avoid heavy pruning to keep shelter available for overwintering wildlife.

Small Changes, Big Impact

Supporting wildlife in your garden doesn’t require a complete transformation. Even small steps like planting pollinator-friendly flowers, using Hortiwool Garden Pads, and reducing chemical use can make a real difference. Over time, you’ll see more bees buzzing, birds feeding, and perhaps even the odd hedgehog snuffling through the undergrowth.

By choosing natural, sustainable materials and working with nature, you’ll not only create a more beautiful garden but also one that’s alive with the sounds and sights of British wildlife.