The urban potential of wildlife gardening

It has been estimated that 23% of the area of urban Sheffield is covered by domestic gardens (about 33 square kilometres). There are approximately 25,000 ponds, 350,000 trees, and 45,000 bird nest boxes in gardens across the city (University of Sheffield’s ‘Biodiversity in Gardens’ project).

Taken together, Sheffield’s gardens are a nature reserve on a truly massive scale and each of us can make big difference individually and collectively. We can provide wild animals with essential living quarters, places to eat, drink, rest and reproduce. Plants, fungi, ferns, lichens, algae and so on also find a welcome refuge in gardens.

Our gardens form a patchwork of green spaces and merge to form wildlife corridors where wildlife can pass between various habitats around the city.

All we need to do to help wildlife further is make sure our gardens are safe e.g. by avoiding chemicals and litter, and welcoming e.g. through appropriate planting and maintenance.