If you're keen on the idea of wildlife gardening, now's the time to start getting your ideas together, as a national event based on the technique is set to take place this autumn.
The Royal Horticultural Society's (RHS's) Wild About Gardens week takes place between September 15th and September 21st, encouraging people up and down the country to get involved in the horticultural movement.
It could make a huge difference to British wildlife: according to a state of nature report published in 2013, 60 percent of the 3,148 UK animal and plant species assessed have declined in the past 50 years.
Many common species such as hedgehogs, house sparrows, starlings and common frogs are becoming much less common, and gardeners can play a role by ensuring their plots are more wildlife friendly.
Professor Chris Baines, vice-president of the Wildlife Trust, said: "The nation's gardens are hugely important for wildlife and as a habitat network they are second to none.
"Inner city balconies and courtyards, the suburbs' hedgerows and lawns and the orchards and allotments of market towns and villages all have the potential to be incredibly rich habitats for wildlife."
As an illustration of what can be achieved through wildlife gardening, the RHS has provided an example that combines the technique with guerilla gardening.
A disused area next to a car park in Broughty Ferry, Dundee, was transformed into a wildflower meadow by pupils at the local Grove Academy school.
After clearing the area, the youngsters went down during the night – some of them wearing balaclavas, in traditional guerilla-gardening style – to plant the meadow.
This is an ongoing project and improvements continue to be made. Bird boxes have been put up, along with 'bee homes', and new areas of the vacant land have been planted.
In 2012 the pupils were awarded a 'Level 4 – Thriving' It's Your Neighbourhood award by the RHS.
Eco School coordinator Mary Holligan said the area has now become a focal point of the town and has had an "excellent" impact on pupils.
