7 Wildlife Accessories That Should Be in Every Garden

The sun is staying out later, the birds are getting louder, and the daffodils are popping up! As we say our farewells to winter, wildlife can't wait to say 'hello' to spring! Now is the perfect time to get the wildlife accessories out as our gardens come to life again, so here are our top 7 picks!

1. Nest boxes

At Ivel Valley Bird Food, we believe a nest box should be in every garden! They're affordable, take up very little room, and give birds a better chance to up their declining population. According to the RSPB, the bird population across Europe have fallen by around 600 million in the past 40 years, with 1 in 4 UK bird species still under serious threat- that's terrifying. Loss of habitat is one of the main causes for our decline of birds. Because there are more new builds going up and parks designed to look neater, our wild birds are running out of safe places to nest.

However, this can all change if we do one simple thing... Put up a nest box in your garden!

If we all put a nest box up in our gardens/outdoor space, it will make a huge impact on the bird population in the most positive way! It's also a fantastic way to attract new species to the garden and keep them regularly visiting. Check out our Beginners Guide to Nest Boxes to find out more about incorporating one into your garden.

2. Bug hotels

Bug hotels are just as crucial as nest boxes. It's very easy to overlook the importance of bugs, especially pollinators! Almost 90% of plant species rely on pollinators to survive, and with honey bees alone responsible for 80% of pollination worldwide, you can see why they are so important! Unfortunately, our beautiful minibeasts are also in decline, with many species facing extinction. With humanity expanding more and more into natural spaces these insects call home, they are increasingly at a loss for places to nest and hibernate.

Luckily bugs still have someone they can count on, us! It's not too late to save them, and you only need to do one thing. Simply placing a bug hotel in your garden will provide bees and bugs with a safe place to hibernate and nest. Pollinators can also be a gardener's best friend! As you invite more helpful insects into your garden, watch how your flowers and plants bloom as bees and butterflies pollinate your plants and ladybirds eat any little aphids destroying them.

3. Bird baths and water dishes

We all know the importance of H₂O, yet so many wildlife lovers still forget to put out clean water for their garden friends regularly! Wild birds, hedgehogs, and even foxes will greatly appreciate a hydrating beverage from a water supply they know they can count on. You don't need a fancy bird bath either, any shallow dish will do, and it's even better when it's on the ground, so the hedgehogs have easy access to it too. You'll get extra brownie points if you place clean rocks in the water to give wildlife something to perch on while drinking to avoid the risk of drowning.

4. Bird feeders

And a full one too! A bird feeder full of high-quality bird food can mean the difference between life and death for our feathered friends. Many believe you only need to put food out for birds in autumn/winter when there is a lack of berries and nuts in the wild, but your birds will appreciate the help all year round. Spring is the busiest time of year for our birds as the nesting season gets underway and summer continues to welcome the arrival of fledgelings. Sunflower Hearts and Suet Treats are a crowd-pleaser for all wild birds, so you can't go wrong with having a feeder full of these delicious bird foods. Be sure to try our different styles of feeders for all wild birds to enjoy.

5. WindowAlert stickers

Now technically, this one is in your home, but your garden birds could hit your window from the outside, so we are counting it as a great accessory! In the UK, the British Trust for Ornithology estimates up to 30 million birds die every year from hitting a window. It's all well and good inviting birds with bird food and nest boxes, but if they start hitting your windows, then a trip to your garden may be a perilous journey. A fun and easy way to prevent birds from flying into your windows involves going back to an amusing childhood hobby...stickers! You can place special stickers on windows to alert birds and deter them from a collision. In order for it to be truly effective, be sure to place the stickers no more than 2-4 inches apart (birds like to fly through larger gaps).

6. Ground feeders

Don't forget about those ground-feeding birds! Robins, Wrens, Chaffinches and other beautiful wild birds can't always access hanging feeders, and much prefer to eat delicious bird food on the ground. Place a ground feeder out in the garden, and see how many more bird species you attract! Ground feeders can also be used to help other wildlife like hedgehogs! Just place some delicious hedgehog food in the ground dish, and you’ll soon get regular visitors.

If you're worried about larger birds and pests hogging all the food from the ground, place a Ground Guard over the feeder. This can stop your pets, large squirrels, and pests from getting in, and protect garden birds and their food at the same time.

7. Hedgehog house

If you really want to be the ultimate guardian of all wildlife, finish off your wildlife-friendly garden with a Hedgehog House. Our wild hedgehogs are facing a huge decline in population, and one of the main reasons is due to the decline in natural habitats with the increase in urban development. By placing a hedgehog house in your garden, you will be providing a safe home for your local hoggies to use all year round.