Create A Backyard Sanctuary
Creating a dedicated area in your garden to help our wildlife and contribute to a healthier environment can be something everyone can do. Here is a guide that can greatly assist our various animals, without us having to make too much effort.
Find a quiet place
First off we need to find an area that has minimal foot traffic. Wildlife has learnt to be very cautious of humans so we need an area that isn't going to be too busy. If you have a smaller backyard try using some shade cloth or a bamboo screen to section off an area. Pick somewhere away from your backdoor that already has a few native flowers, grasses, bushes or trees that can provide shelter.
Planting
After finding the right place you can include any additional varieties of flowering plants, grasses, and bushes to attract wildlife throughout the year. Plants that bloom at different times will ensure wildlife has good access to food sources. A visit to the local garden centre for advice on the options in your area would be a good start.
Let Nature Take It Back
Once you have established an area that has the correct flowers and bushes you should allow nature to take it back. Let nature do its thing and create some ground cover. Do not use pesticides in this new area and let the vegetation start to flourish. Fallen leaves on the ground will also help create a mulch, that will in turn, create a habitat for insects. No more raking leaves!
Shelter
You need to set up shelter for the type of animals you wish to help. If you love reptiles for example then look into having a small pile of rocks and a shallow water dish for them. We used to be able to have ponds in our backyards however nowadays its often considered too dangerous, and is regulated by local councils. A small shallow dish or bird bath can function in its place just fine. For other animals you could mount a nest box nearby that can provide shelter. A hollow log sometimes found in garden centres can work well too. Even modifying a couple of hanging pot plant holders works.
Monitor
To minimize disturbance in your newly designed backyard sanctuary I find deploying a trail camera really handy. You can position it just outside the area you have designed for your wildlife and every so often easily check on the local animals that are living the good life.
