Insects, animals and birds need to move around for food, for different stages in their lifecycle and in response to weather events or disturbance. You might have the most fantastic wildlife-friendly garden in the world, but if wildlife can’t access it, you won’t get very far. Linking habitats within your garden and to your neighbours’ gardens and the wider countryside can help species to move more easily and attract them into your space.
Nature Street examples:
- You may only have space for a small, flower-filled border which blooms throughout the summer. To improve its value, connect it to a neighbour’s nectar-rich border by planting a honeysuckle to cover your fences and encourage the pollinators to travel continuously between gardens.
- Species emerging out of ponds benefit from long grass and vegetation as this offers shelter from the sun as well as predators. Further away, log and stone piles provide great places to shelter and find food.
- Creating gaps and holes in walls and fences will allow low-moving creatures such as hedgehogs, frogs and slow worms easier access through the neighbourhood.
- Planting night-scented vegetation along walls and fences could help create and connect flight lines for bats.