How to Support Your Local Wildlife

Wild birds, insects and other wildlife populations are on the decline. These creatures need all the help they can get to cope with a changing planet.

If you’re wondering what you can do to give your local wildlife a helping hand, here are some suggestions from the team at Really Wild Bird Food, who grow quality bird feeds on their farm in Hampshire, UK.

Welcome birds into your garden

Life is getting harder for wild birds. Natural food sources are less plentiful than in the past, and suitable nesting locations are harder to come by. Putting up bird feeders and nest boxes is a fantastic way to support our feathered friends and attract more of them to your garden.

Bird feeders, bird baths and nesting boxes offer bird populations an essential lifeline no matter what time of year it is. High-energy feeds and cosy nests are especially crucial during the cold winter months, of course, but your feeding station should see plenty of traffic in spring and summer as well.

Top tip: if you want to attract as many birds as possible, be sure to fill up your feeders with high-quality bird seed! Many retailers sell sub-par seed mixes with lots of cheap ‘filler’ ingredients that end up going to waste, so shop around and make sure you’re serving up something your garden birds will actually want to eat.

Make your lawn wildlife–friendly 

Perfectly–manicured lawns don’t tend to attract many garden visitors. If you’d like to make your lawn more wildlife-friendly, longer grass and even some weeds will make it more favourable for bees and other insects.

You don’t have to let your garden grow completely wild, though. Even just a small patch of long grass or a compact section of weeds will do. 

You could also plant wildflower seeds if you want to support local wildlife populations while also adding colour to your outdoor space. For pollinators such as bees and butterflies, wildflowers provide a vital source of food. They can be planted in flower beds, plant pots or throughout your entire lawn.  

Create a home for other garden visitors 

Another great way to attract insects and larger animals like hedgehogs is by making a cosy home for them to live in.

• INSECT HOMES: If you want a healthy bug population in your garden, we recommend installing an insect house! This will provide a safe place for friendly insects to seek shelter or even lay eggs. Insect homes come in all shapes and sizes, so you can choose one that suits your garden‘s aesthetic.
  
  
• HEDGEHOG HOMES: Hedgehogs will  really appreciate a safe and warm place to hide away from predators and the hazards of modern life (like cars, pipes anddrains).  Adding a hedgehog house to your garden is easy. There are plenty of different products out there at varying price points to suit any budget – or you could even make one yourself! As long as it’s positioned away from potential hazards and protected from predators and harsh weather conditions, the hedgehogs won’t mind.

About Really Wild Bird Food

The Really Wild Bird Food Co. is a family-owned business that’s based in the UK. The company, which was founded in 2006 by Richard and Lesley Smith, enjoys an excellent reputation thanks to its quality home-grown bird feeds.

Really Wild Bird Food is a company that strives to be as eco-friendly as possible. Most of the ingredients in their seed mixes are grown using environmentally-responsible farming methods on Richard and Lesley’s very own farm in Hampshire, England. Other products are sourced locally where possible.

Visit www.reallywildbirdfood.co.uk to learn more about Really Wild Bird Food and view their brilliant selection of straight seeds and seed mixes.