Rewild Your UK Garden: Practical Steps to Attract Bees, Butterflies & Birds

Let’s be honest, your garden is probably a bit boring. A sterile green carpet, a few sad-looking roses, and a fence. Meanwhile, the UK’s insect and bird populations are in freefall. Coincidence? Absolutely not. You can fix this, and it’s easier than you think.

Stop Mowing Your Lawn (So Much)

Your lawn is a food desert. Let parts of it grow wild. Dandelions, clover, and buttercups are not weeds; they’re a free buffet for bees. Mow a path through it if you must, but let the rest go a bit wild. You’ll be amazed at what shows up.

Plant Native Wildflowers

Forget fancy, exotic plants from the garden centre. They’re often useless to local wildlife. Get native wildflower seeds. Things like Foxgloves, Red Campion, and Scabious are insect magnets. They’re adapted to our soil and climate, so they’re low-maintenance. Just scatter the seeds in a sunny spot and let them do their thing.

Provide Water

A simple bird bath or even a shallow dish of water with some pebbles in it can be a lifesaver for birds and insects, especially during dry spells. Keep it clean and topped up.

Don’t Use Pesticides

This should be obvious. You can’t poison the things eating your plants and expect the things that eat *them* to thrive. A healthy garden has a natural balance. Ladybirds will eat your aphids. Birds will eat your slugs. Be patient.