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  • Writer's pictureTees Rivers Trust

River Gardens: Bringing Biodiversity

Welcome to our new mini blog series on River Gardens...

Have you ever wondered if there was anything you could do to support wildlife from your own back garden? We have decided to share some of our tips on supporting wildlife from the comfort of your own home.


Turkish sage (Phlomis russeliana), Richard Wilford ©RBG Kew

Bringing Biodiversity

This weeks topic is about bringing biodiversity to your garden. Whether your garden is big or small, you can create more biodiversity by including a range of flowers and plants. The size of your garden doesn't matter, any space you have can become a safe space for wildlife.

As well as looking beautiful, having a diverse garden, supports pollinators such as the bees and butterflies, improve soil quality which helps invertebrates like slugs and worms, which also helps the mammals that feed on them such as hedgehogs and birds!


Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) © BBC Big Garden Bird Watch

The messier the better?

When it comes to a biodiverse garden, messiness is a good thing! When we think of wild areas, an 'untidy woodland' tends to be a healthier one! A biodiverse area does not need to be organised, neat and tidy. For example, deadwood and leaf litter which is sometimes considered 'messy' offers habitat and food for many species from invertebrates to mammals.



What to plant?

The more species you have in your garden, the more diverse it is going to be. The more diversity you have, the more wildlife you are going to attract. One of the best things you can do is select a range of plants that has variety in size, colour, and shape (and Smell!). Invertebrates such as butterflies, moths and bees all use scent to find their food sources. As different species have different lifecycle, we recommend planting a variety of plants throughout the year.

One top tip we have if you are looking to plant more in your garden, such as wildflowers... is to make sure that they are not invasive. If you want to find out more check out this guide – Gardening without Harmful Invasive plants.


Common Poppies (Papaver rhoeas) © Royal Horticultural Society

Overall having a more biodiverse garden is beneficial for the environment. It helps to build green corridors for wildlife to pass through. It also brings satisfaction in seeing your garden bloom and the wildlife benefit!


Keep your eyes peeled for more River Garden Tips!


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