Making Your Garden Wildlife-Friendly
Small changes can make a big difference
Your garden can become an important refuge for wildlife. Even a small outdoor space can provide food, water, shelter and safe routes for animals to move between habitats.
Unfortunately, everyday gardening activities can also create hazards. Garden netting, uncovered drains, pesticides, bonfires and poorly maintained ponds can cause serious injuries to wildlife.
At CapesWildlifeRescue, we believe that preventing injuries is just as important as treating them. By making a few simple changes, you can help local wildlife thrive while reducing the risks that bring animals into rescue.
1. Provide natural food sources
One of the best ways to support wildlife is to create a garden that naturally provides food throughout the year.
Different species need different food sources, so a diverse garden is often more beneficial than one designed around a single animal.
How to help
Plant native flowers and shrubs that provide nectar, pollen, berries and seeds.
Allow some areas of grass to grow longer.
Leave suitable leaf litter and dead wood in quiet areas.
Grow a variety of plants that flower or produce fruit at different times of the year.
Avoid unnecessary insecticides, which can reduce the insects many wild animals depend on.
Supplementary feeding
Feeding wildlife can be helpful when done responsibly, but it should not replace natural food sources.
For garden birds, provide appropriate seed mixes, suitable bird food and fresh water. Clean feeding stations regularly to reduce the spread of disease.
Hedgehogs may benefit from suitable hedgehog food or meaty cat or dog food, alongside fresh water. Never give hedgehogs cow's milk or bread.
Avoid leaving food to spoil, and remove leftovers that attract pests or become contaminated.
2. Always provide fresh water
Water is essential for drinking, bathing and maintaining healthy wildlife populations.
A simple, shallow dish can help birds, hedgehogs and other small animals, even if you do not have space for a pond.
How to help
Provide shallow dishes with stable bases.
Refill them regularly with fresh water.
Clean water dishes frequently.
Place them somewhere accessible but away from areas where pets frequently disturb wildlife.
Include stones or gently sloping edges where appropriate, so smaller animals can climb out easily.
Make ponds safe
Ponds can provide valuable habitat for amphibians, insects and other wildlife, but they must be designed with escape routes.
Hedgehogs and other mammals can drown if they fall into water and cannot climb out.
Provide a gently sloping, textured edge or a securely fitted escape ramp. Check that it is stable and extends into the water.
Cover water butts securely and make sure other water containers cannot trap animals.
3. Create safe places to shelter
Wild animals need places to rest, hide from predators, raise their young and shelter during adverse weather.
A perfectly tidy garden may remove many of these valuable habitats.
How to help
Leave a quiet corner with longer grass and native vegetation.
Keep suitable piles of leaves and logs in undisturbed areas.
Plant hedges and dense shrubs to provide cover.
Consider installing a suitable bird box or hedgehog house.
Avoid disturbing suspected nests or occupied shelters.
Different species need different types of shelter. A hedgehog house, for example, should be placed in a quiet, sheltered location and left undisturbed if occupied.
Do not dismantle leaf piles, compost heaps or log piles without checking carefully for wildlife first.
4. Help hedgehogs move between gardens
Hedgehogs need to travel to find food, mates and shelter. Solid fences and walls can prevent them from reaching suitable habitats.
A connected network of gardens can make a significant difference.
How to help
Create a small ground-level opening of approximately 13cm × 13cm (5 inches × 5 inches) where appropriate.
Encourage neighbours to create connecting gaps.
Check gates and fences for places where animals could become trapped.
Remove sharp wire, broken fencing and discarded netting.
Keep access routes free from avoidable hazards.
Always check that a gap does not lead directly into a dangerous area, such as a road or uncovered drain.
5. Avoid pesticides and harmful chemicals
Pesticides, slug pellets, weedkillers and other chemicals can harm wildlife directly or reduce the food available to it.
Hedgehogs depend heavily on invertebrates, while many birds rely on insects to feed their chicks.
How to help
Avoid unnecessary pesticides and insecticides.
Use wildlife-friendly gardening methods to manage pests.
Encourage natural predators by providing suitable habitats.
Store chemicals securely and follow product safety instructions.
Prevent chemicals from entering ponds, drains and watercourses.
Never leave poisoned bait or contaminated food accessible to wildlife.
If you suspect an animal has been exposed to a chemical, seek veterinary or wildlife rescue advice promptly. Do not attempt to wash or treat a contaminated animal without professional guidance.
6. Make bonfires safe
Bonfire piles can provide attractive shelter for hedgehogs and other wildlife, particularly during autumn.
An animal hidden beneath branches, leaves or garden waste may be killed if the pile is lit.
How to help
Build bonfires immediately before lighting.
Move the entire pile carefully to a new location before lighting and inspect it thoroughly as you do so.
Use a torch to check beneath and around the pile.
Never assume that a pile is empty simply because it has been undisturbed.
Never light a bonfire containing wildlife.
If you discover an animal in the pile, do not light it. Seek advice if you are unsure how to move the animal safely.
7. Check before using garden machinery
Lawnmowers, strimmers, hedge trimmers and other machinery can cause devastating injuries.
Hedgehogs may shelter in long grass or beneath hedges, while birds and other animals may have nests in dense vegetation.
How to help
Check long grass and vegetation before cutting.
Inspect beneath hedges and around garden boundaries.
Look for nests before trimming shrubs or hedges.
Work carefully around dense ground cover.
Avoid disturbing suspected nesting sites.
Never assume an area is free of wildlife because you cannot see an animal.
If you discover a nest, stop work in the immediate area and seek appropriate advice before disturbing it.
8. Remove dangerous netting and litter
Loose netting, string, plastic packaging and discarded containers can trap or injure wildlife.
Hedgehogs may become entangled in garden netting, while birds can become trapped in string or plastic.
How to help
Secure netting tightly and keep it raised above ground level where appropriate.
Roll away football and badminton nets when not in use.
Remove broken fencing and discarded wire.
Dispose of litter responsibly.
Check containers before throwing them away.
Cover drains and other openings securely.
Where possible, choose wildlife-friendly alternatives to loose mesh and plastic materials.
9. Keep domestic pets safe around wildlife
Dogs and cats can injure wildlife, even when they appear to be playing or investigating.
Cat and dog attacks can cause puncture wounds, crushing injuries and infection. Some wounds are difficult to see beneath feathers, fur or spines.
How to help
Supervise dogs in gardens, particularly after dark when hedgehogs are active.
Keep pets away from nests and resting wildlife.
Prevent pets from chasing or repeatedly disturbing wild animals.
Seek prompt professional advice if a wild animal has been caught or bitten.
Do not assume an animal is unharmed simply because there is no visible wound.
If a hedgehog or bird has been caught by a cat or dog, contact a wildlife rescue or veterinary practice promptly.
10. Make windows and buildings safer for birds
Birds may collide with windows when reflections make glass appear to be open sky or vegetation.
Buildings, sheds, garages and outbuildings can also accidentally trap wildlife.
How to help
Use suitable external window markings or other effective bird-safe glazing measures.
Keep shed and garage doors closed when not in use, or provide a safe exit where appropriate.
Check buildings before sealing gaps or carrying out renovations.
Avoid leaving containers or equipment where animals can become trapped.
Inspect lofts, sheds and outbuildings before disturbing potential nesting sites.
If you find a bird that has collided with a window and appears injured or unwell, seek wildlife rescue advice.
11. Support birds with suitable nesting habitats
Birds need safe places to build nests and raise their young.
How to help
Install suitable nest boxes for the species you wish to support.
Place boxes securely and in appropriate locations.
Keep cats and other predators away from nesting areas where possible.
Avoid disturbing active nests.
Provide natural food sources through native planting and insect-friendly gardening.
Different bird species have different nesting requirements. Choose nest boxes and locations appropriate to the species, and follow relevant wildlife legislation.
12. Avoid disturbing young wildlife
Finding a baby animal alone does not necessarily mean it has been abandoned.
Young birds may leave their nests before they can fly confidently. Mother rabbits and hares naturally spend time away from their young, and other mammals may leave offspring hidden while they search for food.
How to help
Observe from a safe distance.
Keep pets away.
Avoid repeatedly approaching or handling the animal.
Do not feed or attempt to hand-rear it without professional advice.
Contact a wildlife rescue if it is injured, weak, cold or in immediate danger.
Intervention should be based on the animal's condition and circumstances, not simply on its age or the fact that it is alone.
13. Keep your garden safe during autumn and winter
Wildlife faces additional challenges during colder months, when food may become scarce and animals need suitable shelter.
How to help
Leave suitable natural nesting materials and undisturbed shelter areas.
Continue providing clean drinking water.
Check carefully before moving leaves, logs, compost or garden waste.
Inspect bonfire piles immediately before lighting.
Avoid disturbing occupied hedgehog houses and other potential hibernation sites.
Check water features for ice and ensure safe escape routes remain accessible.
Do not deliberately wake a healthy hibernating hedgehog or disturb an occupied nest simply to check whether an animal is present.
14. What should I do if I find injured wildlife?
Even in a wildlife-friendly garden, accidents can happen.
If you find an animal that is bleeding, trapped, struggling to move, unusually weak or otherwise distressed:
Keep people and pets away.
Observe from a safe distance and assess the immediate danger.
Contact a suitable wildlife rescue or veterinary practice promptly.
Follow professional advice before handling, feeding or treating the animal.
If the animal is in immediate danger, seek instructions on how to move it safely.
Do not attempt to medicate wildlife or apply household products to injuries.
If the animal is struggling to breathe, barely responsive or severely injured, seek urgent veterinary advice.
15. Can CapesWildlifeRescue help?
CapesWildlifeRescue provides assessment and rehabilitation for selected wild animals that are sick, injured or otherwise in need of assistance, subject to our species policy, facilities and current capacity.
We cannot accept every species or every admission. Some animals require specialist care elsewhere, and we may direct finders to a suitable alternative rescue.
Please contact us before bringing an animal to the rescue. All admissions must be discussed and authorised in advance.
If you find injured wildlife, please tell us:
The species, if known.
Where it was found.
What happened, if known.
Whether it is injured, weak or behaving abnormally.
Whether it has been caught by a cat or dog.
A photograph taken from a safe distance, if available.
These details help us assess the situation and advise you on the safest next steps.
Every garden can make a difference
You do not need a large garden, specialist equipment or a significant budget to help wildlife.
A shallow dish of water, a small area of natural vegetation, a safe pond edge, a gap beneath a fence or simply checking before using a strimmer can make a real difference.
By reducing hazards and providing food, water and shelter, we can help wildlife live more safely alongside us.
A wildlife-friendly garden is not about making everything perfect. It is about creating a space where nature has room to thrive.
