Garden wildlife survey results - Free advice on how to improve your garden

28/11/2008 08:54:03

The RSPB's Homes for Wildlife - 2008 results
November 2008. More than 25,000 gardeners have done an average of 12 things each to help frogs, toads, bats, insects, hedgehogs and birds in the last year, says the RSPB.

Homes for Wildlife
Providing seed mixes, growing flowering nectar-rich plants and planting dense thorny bushes are just some of the top actions people have taken as part of the RSPB's Homes for Wildlife project. Homes for Wildlife offers free, tailored wildlife-gardening advice to help people transform their homes and gardens into mini nature reserves.
With more than 300,000 actions taken in year one, the RSPB is delighted with the positive response.

• Click here to read about plants for wildlife gardens.
• Gardening for Birdwatchers guidebook. Click here.

The RSPB's Richard Bashford, said: "Wildlife is increasingly reliant on our gardens for food, water and shelter so it's fantastic that people are so committed to making their homes and gardens wildlife friendly.

"Through Homes for Wildlife, we're trying to reverse the alarming declines of familiar birds such as house sparrows, starlings and song thrushes. Large numbers of these birds make their homes in our gardens. The time committed by people in taking actions will help create a better future for them and other wildlife in the not too distant future."
More than 90 per cent of people said attracting birds and insects to their gardens is important to them. Four of the top ten activities reflect this - providing food and shelter for birds, butterflies and moths.

Swift in flight. Mark Thomas (rspb-images.com).

Any garden will do
The fifth most popular activity - growing plants in tubs to attract insects - shows that regardless of size or shape of garden everyone can take part. More than 4,000 people took action on balconies or in gardens smaller than squash courts. In even a tiny space, you can make a real difference for wildlife.

Participants counted birds, bats, bees, butterflies and other bugs over the summer.

House sparrows
Top of the bird table were house sparrows with an average of five per garden. However, despite still being the most seen bird in gardens, their numbers have reduced by more than two-thirds over the last 30 years. Recent research suggests a lack of insects to feed young is contributing to declines. Homes for Wildlife participants are helping to combat this by encouraging insects back into their gardens.

Across the UK, three quarters of people also counted blackbirds' nests. Swifts were seen more frequently in the south. House martins were recorded more often in the north and west.

Common frog. Jodie Randall (rspb-images.com).

Insects, amphibians et al
On average, 60 bugs were seen in each garden. Snails were most common with an average of 12 per garden. Ladybirds were seen more often in the south and east than the north and west. Other results show that three-quarters of gardens surveyed had frogs, more than half had bats, a third had hedgehogs and newts and a quarter had toads.

Richard added: "We've made a fantastic start but it's really important that more people get involved. Now is a great time to think longer term about turning your garden into a haven for wildlife.
"The more people who sign-up and take action, the bigger effect we will have. By taking simple wildlife-friendly steps in our gardens, collectively we will make a real difference for many of our birds and other wildlife."

To get involved sign-up now on the RSPB website at www.rspb.org.uk/hfw or telephone 0870 240 1001 to request an advice pack.