Hampshire is home to an extraordinary range of wildlife, from rare butterflies on the chalk downs to water voles along the Test. Creating a wildlife-friendly garden is one of the most rewarding things you can do, and it starts with planting native species that have co-evolved with our local insects, birds and mammals over thousands of years.
Native Wildflowers for Pollinators
A patch of native wildflowers, even a small one, can dramatically increase the number of pollinators visiting your garden. These species are all native to Hampshire and the surrounding area.
- Knapweed (Centaurea nigra) — outstanding for bees and butterflies
- Field scabious — long-flowering, loved by bumblebees
- Oxeye daisy — cheerful and easy to establish
- Wild marjoram — intensely attractive to butterflies
- Yellow rattle — parasitises grass, creates space for wildflowers
- Primrose — early nectar source for emerging queen bumblebees
Native Shrubs and Trees for Wildlife
Hawthorn, blackthorn, hazel, elder and dog rose provide nesting sites, berries and flowers for a huge range of species. A native mixed hedge is one of the single most wildlife-friendly things you can plant.
Creating the Right Habitat
Leave areas of longer grass, keep some dead wood, provide a pond if space allows, and avoid the temptation to be too tidy. Wildlife needs messiness and variety as much as it needs the right plants.
A&T Landscapes can create a beautiful, wildlife-friendly garden for your Hampshire property. Contact us on 07735 916029 or landscapes.at@gmail.com.