Eight ways to get your garden ready for spring wildlife

Spring is such an incredible season. After a long, dark, and cold winter, the world comes alive again with sunlight, fresh blooms, and new life. As the wildlife around us begins to reawaken, now is the ideal opportunity to turn our attention to our gardens and outdoor spaces, and work on making them a welcoming place for wildlife to thrive.

1. Add some bird feeders

Installing bird feeders in your garden is one of the easiest and most satisfying ways to help birds during the spring. Birds need an extra helping hand at this time of year as it’s their breeding and nesting season, so they need additional energy for feeding their young. Sunflower hearts are an excellent choice for feeders, as they’re high in protein and healthy fats. Suet is another brilliant option, particularly our Super suet, which is packed full of fat and resistant to melting in warm weather.

2. Plant a rainbow of wildflowers

A fuss-free way to add some dazzling colour to your garden, wildflowers have lots of benefits for wildlife, too. Pollinators like bees and butterflies rely on wildflowers for food and a place to shelter and rest - our Bees and butterflies seed pack has been created specifically for these species. Wildflowers benefit birds, too, as many eat the seeds and insects that are attracted to these flowers.  Whether you have a large garden or a small balcony, you can reap the benefits of wildflowers quite easily – sprinkle them on fresh soil or pop them in a plant pot to sit on your balcony. Take a look at our range of wildflower seeds.

3. Install a bug hotel or bee biome

In a lovely dewdrop shape, our bee biome is a beautiful addition to any garden. It includes nesting tubes for solitary bees and provides shelter for other insects too. Hang it in a sheltered sunny spot in your garden. We also have a fantastic insect study centre available. It’s a great way to learn about the benefits of bugs while giving them a place to shelter and rest.

4. Invest in a bird bath

Whilst birds and wildlife need a place to drink and bathe throughout the year, as the days get warmer, water becomes even more important. Adding a bird bath to your outdoor space is the perfect way to provide them with exactly that. We have a plethora of different bird baths available at the RSPB Shop, from free-standing bird baths like the ever-popular RSPB bird bath to our Anywhere bird bath, which you can hang – you guessed it – anywhere!

5. Lend nesting birds a helping hand

At this time of year, nesting season is in full swing and so birds are often on the hunt for places to nest and materials to keep their nests comfy and cosy. Putting up a nest box is a great way to help birds, but you can also provide them with nesting material too. Moss, leaves and twigs are all good materials for building nests, or why not purchase some nesting wool? It’s safe for birds and can keep eggs and chicks nice and cosy in their nest box. We also have a sheep nesting material holder that will make a fun addition to your garden.

6. Build a wildlife pond

Adding a wildlife pond to your garden is a brilliant way to help support wildlife this spring. Big or small, a pond provides a home for amphibians like frogs, toads, and newts, and a water source for birds and mammals. Our pond liner kits are available in three sizes and are guaranteed for 30 years. RHS How to create a wildlife pond is also a great book to read if you need tips on creating your pond.

7. Provide Hedgehogs with food and shelter

While Hedgehogs are often considered one of the UK’s most-loved species, their numbers show increasing evidence of decline. These humble ‘hogs don’t need much to keep them happy, so it’s easier than ever to help them out. Placing some Hedgehog food and a bowl of water out for them can be invaluable, and giving them a place to snooze and raise their young even more so. We have a range of different Hedgehog houses available to choose from, along with kits containing everything you need to start supporting Hedgehogs.

8. Let things grow wild

Perhaps the easiest thing to do on this list: why not let your garden grow wild? Birds, bees, bugs and other creatures love a garden that is teeming with wildflowers and long grass. Whether you let your whole garden grow wild or choose a section of lawn to keep long, providing an area like this is fantastic for wildlife. It provides a place for pollinators to feed and shelter, creates a habitat for a whole host of wildlife, and even helps lock up carbon and tackle pollution.

Will you be trying any of these tips for keeping your garden wildlife-friendly this spring?