You might have noticed your garden bursting with wildlife over the long, hot summer we’ve enjoyed this year. From butterflies to birds, insects to frogs, even toads, foxes and hedgehogs. It’s a great feeling knowing that nature can get so close! But now that summer’s over, and the weather is changing, you might be wondering how the wildlife will cope when the temperature begins to plummet.

Well, don’t worry. Read on for some helpful ideas and tips of how you can give nature a little bit of help this winter and enjoy the sight of wildlife in your garden once more.

Keep it wild… a little bit

It’s important to keep your lawn well maintained during the colder months of the year, you’ll need to mow it at least one more time before wet weather sets in and also consider fertilising it with some grass seed to help it stay strong and healthy – check out this grass seed calculator if you’re unsure of how much you’ll need. However, if you’re hoping to help wildlife, then try leaving a few wild areas of your garden for insects and you’ll also create the perfect place for animals to rest and shelter from the cold.

Your pond

If you have a pond in your garden, then chances are it’s going to freeze over when the temperature drops. You need to prepare for this by creating a hole in the ice. Why? Because the toxic gases given off by dead plants and foliage in the water, will kill any fish or frogs that may be hibernating at the bottom of the pond out of sight. One way to create a hole in the ice to release these gases is to place a pan of hot water on the ice and allow it to thaw.

Provide fresh water

Access to fresh water might be limited for wildlife in the colder months, so make sure you keep your bird baths filled with fresh water and provide saucers of water for any visiting hedgehogs, foxes or even badgers. If they know they have access to fresh water in your garden, then they’ll be back!

A bug’s life

Insects like butterflies and bees and mini beasts all need somewhere to shelter over the cold months of the year, but you don’t have to build or create anything fancy. If you have lots of empty plant pots stack them all together and you’ll see insect maybe even some little mammals take residence.

Create a bat friendly garden

Because of their nocturnal nature, we often forget about the plight of bats but don’t worry – there are a couple of things you can do to encourage these incredible creatures into your garden while you’re tucked up in bed.

You can increase their food supply by planting plants and flowers that attract their food such as moths and other creatures. If you’ve followed the step above then you might have already provided them with a food source. Bats can rest in places that are dark and dry during the day, like under that pile of tiles you’ve been meaning to move or head to your garden centre and pick up a bat box.

Will you be doing anything to help the wildlife in your garden this winter?

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