Author(s): Christine Lavelle

House & Home

Most gardeners view themselves as nature lovers, with one of the most enjoyable aspects of creating and maintaining a garden lying in the feeling of closeness to nature. It often comes as a surprise to many, however, that their garden is an essential home to many species of wild animals. Some of the more obvious examples are colourful and highly apparent, but it is the army of countless unseen and commonly ignored wild occupants that form the most significant part of this intriguing hidden infrastructure.

Recent years have seen a growing awareness of the fragility of natural habitats, and this book sets out clearly why all the creatures that you may find lurking in the undergrowth have their part to play in the wellbeing of your garden, and why they should be encouraged and welcomed as part of your garden planning.

Clear and easy-to-follow instructions on a range of basic techniques - such as plant propagation, soil preparation, planting, creating new habitats and general maintenance - are backed up with advice on planning and designing, showing how we can successfully share our outdoor space with wildlife. In addition, the book shows how to encourage benign and beneficial garden species by feeding and providing shelter for them as well as how best to deal with the more problematic species that occasionally enter our gardens.

The book includes a comprehensive directory of 200 beautiful garden plants to attract a range of species, as well as a useful directory of over 70 common species of wildlife. There are sections showing how to observe and better understand the roles of wildlife, as well as step-by-step instructions on how to attract wildlife and how to achieve practical solutions to gardening problems.

With its wealth of hands-on practical advice and inspirational photography, this is the ideal sourcebook for first-time gardeners, those wishing to use the techniques in an existing garden and dedicated wildlife enthusiasts everywhere.