In recent years, gardeners have increasingly turned their attention to creating outdoor spaces that benefit wildlife. A wildlife-friendly garden not only supports biodiversity but also creates a tranquil and rewarding space for you to enjoy. For timber merchants like us at Bendrey Brothers in Bristol, we understand the importance of using sustainable and effective garden materials to help you design a garden that’s both beautiful and beneficial to wildlife.
Here’s how you can use garden and landscaping timber products—such as sleepers, planters, and path edging—to craft a haven for nature.
Why Create a Wildlife-Friendly Garden?
The UK’s wildlife faces increasing pressure from urban development, climate change, and intensive farming practices. By dedicating even a small portion of your garden to wildlife, you can provide essential habitats, food, and shelter for birds, bees, hedgehogs, and countless other species.
Wildlife-friendly landscaping also enhances your garden’s natural beauty, promotes healthier ecosystems, and can even improve soil quality and pest control, reducing your reliance on chemical products.
Key Principles of Wildlife-Friendly Landscaping
Provide Food Sources
Plant native species, as they offer the most nutritious food for local wildlife.
Include a mix of flowers, shrubs, and trees that bloom at different times of the year to ensure year-round food availability.
Install bird feeders and butterfly-friendly plants like buddleia or lavender.
Offer Shelter and Nesting Spots
Use timber sleepers or offcuts to create log piles. These offer excellent homes for insects, frogs, and hedgehogs.
Build planters with timber, filling them with shrubs or climbing plants to create nesting opportunities for birds.
Conserve Water
Add a pond or water feature to attract frogs, newts, and dragonflies. Even a small container pond can make a difference.
Lay down ground control fabric to prevent water runoff and erosion, allowing more water to nourish your plants.
Create Safe Passageways
Use aggregates and timber path edging to create wildlife-friendly pathways. Hedgehogs, for instance, need clear routes to move between gardens.
Avoid Chemicals
Minimise or eliminate the use of pesticides and herbicides. Encourage natural pest predators, such as ladybirds, to manage garden pests instead.
How Timber Products Can Enhance Your Wildlife-Friendly Garden
At Bendrey Brothers, we offer a wide range of timber products perfect for landscaping projects that aim to support wildlife. Here are some creative ways to use them:
Timber Sleepers
Garden sleepers are versatile and robust, making them ideal for constructing raised beds, retaining walls, or rustic edging. Raised beds filled with wildflowers can attract bees and butterflies, while sleepers stacked in a corner can double as insect habitats. Choose sustainably sourced timber to ensure an eco-friendly approach.
Planters
Timber planters are perfect for creating focal points in your garden while supporting pollinators. Fill planters with nectar-rich plants like foxgloves, thyme, or marjoram. Use untreated or eco-friendly treated timber to ensure no harmful chemicals leach into the soil.
Path Edging
Define pathways with timber edging to add structure and guide visitors through your wildlife haven. Pathways created with gravel or bark chippings provide a natural aesthetic and allow rainwater to soak into the ground, supporting moisture-loving plants.
Ground Control Fabric
Ground control fabric is a practical choice for suppressing weeds without resorting to chemical herbicides. It also helps to stabilise soil and reduce erosion, creating a healthier environment for wildlife-friendly plants to thrive.
Aggregates
Use aggregates like gravel, pebbles, or bark mulch to create areas that encourage burrowing insects or as safe landing spots for pollinators.
Sustainable Choices for a Better Future
Sustainability is at the heart of creating a wildlife-friendly garden. By choosing high-quality timber products from trusted merchants like us, you’re ensuring that your materials are responsibly sourced and built to last. A commitment to sustainable practices in your garden can inspire others to do the same, amplifying your efforts to protect local wildlife.
Shop Locally for Your Landscaping Needs
If you’re based in or near Bristol, Bendrey Brothers has everything you need to transform your garden into a wildlife haven. From garden sleepers and planters to path edging and ground control fabric, our products are ideal for creating beautiful, functional, and nature-friendly landscapes.
Contact us today or visit our Bristol timber yard to explore our range of sustainable timber products and landscaping solutions. Together, let’s build a garden that welcomes wildlife and delights the senses.
