NEW HOMES FOR SCOTLAND’S WEE FIVE
We encourage all Action Earth Projects to boost Scotland’s Wildlife by including habitat creation in their projects.
Click the relevant animal name for habitat creation ideas.
RESEARCH BEFORE YOU BUY
It is essential that all Action earth projects use Peat Free Compost . It can be bought through your local garden centre, but they often don’t stock it for much of the year. If you can’t buy it locally – type ‘buy peat free compost’ into your internet browser to find these.
Avoid Harmful Invasive Plants by planting Wildflowers which you can use in place of invasive non-natives.
OTHER WEE BEASTIES
To help out even furrier friends, find out how to make your gardens more bumblebee-friendly.
More information about Pollinators – can he found here
If you are looking for ideas to turn your garden into a butterfly and moth haven Butterfly Conservation can help.
For other small mammals than hedgehogs, have a look at Wild About Gardens.
TREES, PLANTS AND SOIL
Tree planting is a priority to help address climate change. Advice on best types of tree to plant in Scotland are available from The Woodland Trust.
RSPB offer advice on trees that offer the best food and shelter for wildlife and there is additional advice If you are looking to plant a Garden for Orchards.
GET MORE WILDLIFE
Creating a wildlife garden with the habitats as well as ‘homes’ will provide for insects, birds, bats, other small mammals, frogs, toads etc. This can be done in even a tiny area.Whatever your resources, we can all take steps to improve local biodiversity.
The Royal Horticulture Society has great advice on wildlife gardening.
NatureScot have a range ideas to make your garden more attractive to wildlife. Maybe your garden has limited space or is in a built up area? You can still Garden for Life in pots and containers!
More helpful hints and tips can be found at Scottish Wildlife Trust who also have advice on building small ponds.
If you want to garden for specific animals, click the links below relating to the specific animal:
DOING A BIGGER PROJECT?
Plantlife have advice on how to create your own wildflower meadow.
The Woodland Trust can provide help and advice if you are thinking about planting trees – whatever the number. They also have some free tree packs you can claim!
LOOKING WIDER
NatureScot is a unique source of information on Scotland’s Biodiversity and a great starting place for further assistance.
Local Biodiversity Action Plan Partnerships are useful contact organisations in your area that deliver conservation, communication and education work around local habitat and species needs.
Scottish Countryside Rangers Association exist in most areas to assist people in enjoying the natural outdoors, and can mostly be contacted through your own local authority website.
Paths for All encourages people to get out-and-about, walk for health and to improve Scotland’s pathways. Funding and advice is available.
More useful information and contacts for enjoying the outdoors can be found at Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
We recommend reading up on the current Scottish Biodiversity Strategy for background information on current priorities and actions ‘Strategic Vision And Outcomes – Biodiversity strategy to 2045: tackling the nature emergency – gov.scot.
SUPPORT FOR GROUPS
If you are a community managed garden or farm then advice, support is available through the Social Farms and Gardens who have close links to Trellis Scotland, a charity that helps develop the use of therapeutic gardening and horticulture for health, well-being and life opportunities. Greenspace Scotland assist groups to plan, develop and manage green areas in towns and cities, helping turn urban places into people spaces. For information on allotment gardens, take a look at SAGs.
Volunteering Matters offer information about volunteering in many sectors; our website demonstrates the range of work we do across the UK.