The best products to buy to encourage wildlife in your garden

Waking up to bird song is one of life’s simple pleasures, as is the gentle hum of a bumblebee or the sighting of a slow worm when you are pottering around outside. We’re well into No Mow May and leaving the grass long — even just in one area — is a wonderful way to attract such wildlife and pollinators into the garden.

But along with shutting the lawnmower in the shed, what else can we do to encourage butterflies, birds and bees to spend time in our backyards? Sean McMenemy, a wildlife expert and the founder of Ark Wildlife says: “Simply keeping fresh water available in your garden will attract a multitude of species. Whether a shallow dish, or a dedicated wildlife pond, birds, mammals, insects, and amphibians will all be drawn in by water.”

And what not to do? “The nemeses of wildlife are chemicals and blockades. Pesticides and herbicides should be avoided at all costs.” He suggests leaving gaps or small holes in fences to give access to hedgehogs and amphibians. “And always, always, be extra careful and wildlife aware when using a strimmer.”

If you’d like to provide a shelter for wildlife, there are a multitude on the market to suit the varied needs of different creatures. But it is also worth remembering that these shelters are often easy to make and are great projects to get kids involved in. The RSPB has a video on how to build a bug hotel and the Woodland Trust has masses of tips for how to attract different types of animals into the garden.

Make sure you have feeding stations too, in the form of bird feeders, bird tables or miniature water cups for thirsty butterflies and bees — Uncommon Goods sells some sweet ceramic ones.

Another lovely option, even if you have no outdoor space at all, is Beewise’s “bee revival kit” (pictured above) — a keychain filled with an emergency solution in case you come across an exhausted bee. You get the chance to be a hero and make sure it can continue its important pollinating work.

If squirrels are taking food from the songbirds, try this squirrel-proof bird feeder, £34.99, roamwildproducts.co.uk

Bee drinking cups, £35 for a set of five, uncommongoods.com

Poppy seed head feeder, the perfect size for fat balls, £19.99, rhsplants.co.uk

This butterfly barn from Wildlife World is a safe home for all types of butterflies, moths, lacewings and many other species of pollinating insects, £21.99, johnlewis.com

This sturdy wicker house will help to keep hedgehogs safe from predators when they’re sleeping or hibernating, £29.50, aplaceforeverything.co.uk

A frost-resistant bird bath with a ripple-step design that provides extra footing for wild birds, making it safe for them to drink from and bathe in, £44.99, woodlandtrust.org.uk

The Eco Frogilo is a cute summer and winter home for frogs and toads and will also provide protection from predators and garden tools, £25.95, arkwildlife.co.uk

This letterbox friendly DIY bee hotel kit would make a lovely gift. It will provide a safe space for female solitary bees to build nests and lay eggs, £24.99. Also, this bee revival kit, £10.99, beevive.com

This bird nester is handwoven by artisans in Ghana, supported by Frafra Baskets, £5, toa.st