Most of us do the bare basics when it comes to our backyards. We’ll cut the lawn, pull up a few weeds, and maybe trim the hedge back when it gets a little overgrown. However, it’s important to remember that your backyard can provide a brilliant habitat for all sorts of flora and fauna. While we generally focus on making it a space that we can inhabit on our days off while the weather is good, it can provide a twenty four hour source of shelter, nourishment, and relaxation for local creatures. So, it’s time to start making a conscious effort when it comes to making our outdoor spaces as eco-friendly as possible. Here are a few places that you can start out!
Give Bees a Chance
Bees are currently experiencing a crisis on an international scale. Believe it or not, these small creatures are in serious danger. Their numbers are dwindling and they’re really struggling to get back. You’ve probably noticed that there are far fewer about than summers past! Now, there are various reasons for their declining numbers, but a main contributor is habitat destruction. But you can lend them a helping hand. Consider planting plenty of bee-friendly flowers out back. This will give them a source of pollen and nectar from which they can feed. Great options include Annual Scabious, Bee Sage, Rosemary, Sage, and Sea Holly. You could also add native plants such as the Common Poppy, Goldenrod, and Lesser Snapdragon, which will interact with local biosystems and help the greater area outside of your garden too.
Supply Small Critters with Natural Food Sources
Chances are that you already leave some sort of food out for birds - whether you have specially designed feeders or sprinkle some seeds and nuts about. However, you can supply local wildlife with a more natural food source by planting fruit trees out back. Contact a fruit tree supplier who will be able to offer all sorts of crops, from apple trees to cherry trees, pear trees, or trees that bear apricots, damsons, or gages. You can even try some of the fruit yourself!
Create a Pond
If you have small children living in your home or regularly visiting you, you might want to give a pond a miss, as any expanse of water can be dangerous for little ones. However, for the rest of us, they create a beautiful spot for nature to flourish, acting as a source of water for birds and small mammals, and can create a habitat for amphibians such as frogs, toads, and newts. Creating a pond is a little more complex than digging a hole and filling it with water. So, call in the help of a landscape gardener who will be able to complete the job professionally.
These are just a few simple things that you can do to make your backyard a little more wildlife and eco-friendly. So, get your gardening gloves on and get started making the world a better place!
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