Biodiversity - why and how
Dig It!
Thursday, 17 April 2025 - 31 minutes
This month’s focus for Dig It! is on biodiversity in the garden - and how everyone, from city dwellers with balconies to those with large gardens, can support it.
With alarming global declines in wildlife, such as a 68% drop in vertebrate populations since 1970, small-scale actions matter more than ever. Urban residents can create green corridors using vertical planting, nectar-rich herbs, and insect-friendly flowers, even in containers. Adding insect hotels and water dishes further supports pollinators.
Garden owners can boost biodiversity by building hedgehog highways, installing wildlife shelters, and avoiding harmful chemicals.
In larger spaces, leaving lawn areas unmowed, creating log or stone piles, and even establishing small ponds or marshes fosters habitats for a wide variety of species. Compost heaps also offer vital shelter and food sources.
No matter the space, there’s a way to make a difference - each garden can become a haven for wildlife and a step toward ecological balance.
Explore the options today with Hester Macdonald and Katt Cullen on Dig It!
