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Five Great Plants for a Wildlife Garden

It's quite possible to turn even a small garden into a mini nature reserve, that can be a place of food and refuge for a wide variety of insects, birds and amphibians. Not only can wildlife friendly gardens help nature, they can also look lovely and be great places to relax. Even if you don't want to focus totally on wildlife as a garden theme, you can even just make a small corner wildlife friendly. Add all these garden small corners together, across the country and they will amount to thousands of acres!

English Bluebell

This popular woodland flower can also be grown in gardens, around the base of trees, on the lawn, or in hedge borders. An early source of nectar for bumblebees and hoverflies. Available from Thompson and Morgan HERE

Dog Rose

This scrambling native rose has small, simple white / pink flowers, and rosehips in autumn, that provide a feast for blackbirds, redwings and waxwings. Available from Thompson & Morgan HERE

Buddleja 'Buzz' 3 in 1

Although not a native plant, Buddleja is renowned for its popularity with butterflies, so much so it is often just called 'Butterfly Bush'. This three coloured variety is ideal for planting in containers, to bring life to a patio, or concrete backyard. Available from Thompson & Morgan HERE

Common Poppy

This iconic flower of Remembrance is easy to grow in areas of poor soil, making it great for growing on gravel drives, down the side of driveways, sheds etc. Available from Van Meuwen HERE

Blackthorn

Blackthorn is covered in white blossom in spring and black berries in winter, that birds like, and can also be used to make sloe gin. With thorny branches it also makes a good security perimeter hedge. Available from Thompson & Morgan HERE