Look at the habitats adjacent to your garden and try to complement and enhance them. This will help to ensure there are enough resources to support the species you are trying to attract. It is rare that a single garden can offer all a species needs, but your neighbourhood as a whole could provide resources collectively. It's always better to provide natural habitat in gardens rather than artificial homes, but if you do go for a man-made home, think about whether the wildlife has access to the materials they need to line nests or burrows, or enough food and water to feed parents and their young.
Nature Street examples:
- Bird boxes will be unlikely to attract occupants if you place them in a concrete courtyard with no food or water nearby.
- A native hedge is always a better home and food source in a garden then an artificial home - why not remove your fence and add a hedge instead?
- Mammal homes need to be placed in sheltered locations where there is lots of access to bedding material like old leaves and grass cuttings.
- Feeding the birds is a great way to get closer to wildlife, but the food you put out can’t provide all the natural proteins and vitamins that healthy birds need. Remember to provide natural foods by planting berry and seed-rich plants.