Greener Grounds at home: easy ways to make your garden more wildlife friendly
Mia at work making school grounds more wildlife and water friendly in West Cumbria
Our Learning & Engagement Officer Mia Ambrose has recently delivered an extraordinarily successful pilot project in schools with our Greener Grounds programme – read all about it here. She's been transforming bare concrete playgrounds, often prone to flooding, into vibrant, climate-resilient wildlife gardens. The results? More space for nature, more opportunities for outdoor learning, and more joyful splashing in puddles – everyone wins!
Inspired by her work, Mia’s been applying the same principles to her own garden. And we thought, why stop there? Here are some easy ideas to bring a little Greener Grounds magic to your own outdoor space – no matter how big or small.
Make your garden more rain friendly
Make your gardens more rain friendly with the use of rain planters
With climate change bringing heavier rainfall and flashier storms, managing water well in your garden is one of the most helpful things you can do. The goal is to slow it down, let it soak in and clean itself up before it reaches our rivers.
You don’t need to start from scratch. Just a few small tweaks can make a big difference:
Add a mini drainpipe wetland – a clever little rain planter that catches rainwater from your downpipe and filters it through soil and plants. They look great - you’ll be the envy of the neighbours. Here’s how to build one or, if DIY’s not your thing, you can buy ready-made versions from websites like this Water Butts | Rainwater Terrace
Swap hard surfaces for soft ones – if you can, lift some paving or gravel an area to allow water to soak in naturally.
Have space? Dig a pond – big or small, formal or a simple lined hole with some stones and plants. Ponds are a lifeline for wildlife, especially in summer.
Set up a compost bin – a great way to cut down waste, improve your soil, and keep nutrients cycling naturally in your garden.
More tips from Tyne Rivers Trust.
Invite more wild things in
Be inspired to create nature friendly areas in your garden
Nature doesn’t need manicured lawns and perfect borders. In fact, it thrives in the messy bits. Here's how to make your garden a more welcoming home:
Leave a patch wild – stop mowing, see what grows, and let insects move in.
Build a bug hotel – you can buy or make them by using hollow stems, bark, pinecones, or anything with little nooks for insects to tuck into.
Create a log pile – ideally in a shady spot. These make brilliant homes for beetles, fungi, amphibians and more.
Plant a mini meadow – native wildflowers, even in pots or small borders, provide food and shelter for bees and butterflies. Or try making your own seed bombs and scatter them in scruffy corners. Here’s how.
Collect and sow your own
As summer fades, start collecting seed heads from your favourite garden plants. Let them dry out, run them through your fingers to release the seeds, then store them in labelled paper bags. A quick Google will tell you how and when to sow each type next year – it's trial and error, fun and free!
Plant a hedge instead of a fence – native hedges like hawthorn, hazel or blackthorn offer brilliant shelter, food, and wildlife corridors for birds, insects and small mammals.
Make a hedgehog house – they’re surprisingly easy to build, and you might just get a prickly lodger for the winter. This handy guide has you covered.to build a hedgehog
Make homes rather than handouts
Birds love dense, native shrubs for nesting
Whilst it’s no bad thing to feed birds and other creatures with appropriate supplements, why not rather give them somewhere to live and food they can forage:
Add dense native shrubs like hawthorn or dog rose to give birds a place to nest.
Grow climbers like honeysuckle or ivy – perfect for shelter and food, especially for late-season insects and birds.
Choose plants that feed – think berries, seed heads and nectar-rich flowers across the seasons. Early crocuses and late-flowering ivy help fill the hunger gaps.
Don’t forget the damp lovers
Frogs, newts and toads love damp places
Frogs, toads and newts are brilliant pest controllers and fascinating to watch. Even if you don’t have room for a pond, you can still welcome them:
Make a toad home – an upside-down plant pot or old tile propped up on stones in a damp shady spot does the job.
Create a mini pond using natural materials dig a shallow hollow and line it with a layer of clay or terracotta pot with the drainage hole sealed. Add pebbles logs and native pond plants. Make sure there’s a gentle slope or ramp so anything that falls in can get back out. For a step-by-step guide, check out this great resource.
Need more ideas?
Whether you’ve got a balcony or a back field, there are loads of ways to help nature thrive. Browse Wildlife Watch's activity hub for family-friendly inspiration, or take a look at Trent Rivers Trust’s guide to river-friendly gardening.
Every little patch matters. A few small changes can ripple out, helping our rivers, our wildlife and our communities become that little bit more resilient.
If you’re looking for simple ways to live a more river-friendly life head over to our Be River Friendly page - it’s full of practical tips to help you make a difference.