Garden Wildlife Week 2025 is a celebration of British biodiversity, taking place from Monday 26 May to Sunday 1 June 2025. Held annually during the Spring Bank Holiday, this national awareness campaign invites everyone—from seasoned gardeners to curious kids—to get hands-on in making their outdoor spaces more wildlife-friendly. Whether you live in a city flat with a balcony or a countryside home with acres of land, there’s something you can do to help Britain’s wild creatures thrive.
What Is Garden Wildlife Week?
Garden Wildlife Week is a UK-wide initiative designed to raise awareness about the importance of gardens as habitats for native wildlife. Spearheaded by conservation organisations and supported by schools, communities, garden centres, and environmental charities, this week-long celebration encourages us all to reconnect with the natural world right outside our doors.
The campaign reminds us that gardens play a critical role in supporting bees, butterflies, birds, hedgehogs, frogs, and countless other species. With the loss of natural habitats due to housing developments and intensive farming, these green spaces can act as vital sanctuaries for wildlife.
Why Garden Wildlife Week Matters
Many people don’t realise that gardens collectively cover more land in the UK than all of the country’s nature reserves combined. With over 23 million private gardens, the potential to support wildlife through these personal green spaces is enormous.
Key reasons Garden Wildlife Week is so important:
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Pollinator Protection: Bees and butterflies rely on flowering plants for nectar. Your garden can help keep their populations strong.
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Habitat Loss: As wild areas disappear, gardens provide safe spaces for shelter and breeding.
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Education: It’s an opportunity to teach children and communities about ecology, responsibility, and biodiversity.
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Climate Resilience: A wildlife-rich garden can support natural climate regulation by enhancing soil health and water retention.
How to Get Involved in Garden Wildlife Week 2025
Whether you’re looking for small changes or big projects, here are some ways to get involved:
1. Build a Wildlife-Friendly Garden
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Install bird boxes, bug hotels, or hedgehog houses to create shelter.
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Add a small pond or water feature to support amphibians like frogs and newts.
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Grow wildflowers and native plants to feed pollinators and attract butterflies.
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Leave a corner of your garden untamed, with leaf piles or logs that insects can thrive in.
2. Go Chemical-Free
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Avoid using pesticides, herbicides, and synthetic fertilisers. These chemicals can harm beneficial insects and the food web they support.
3. Plant with Purpose
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Focus on pollinator-friendly plants such as lavender, foxgloves, cornflowers, and buddleia.
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Choose a variety of flowering plants that bloom at different times to provide food year-round.
4. Feed the Birds
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Hang feeders with sunflower hearts, fat balls, and nyjer seeds to support different bird species.
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Provide fresh water in a shallow dish or bird bath.
5. Join or Organise Events
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Look out for local workshops, garden centre events, school projects, and nature walks.
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Organise a wildlife counting day with your neighbours or children—track how many species you can spot in your area.
Events and Activities in the UK
While Garden Wildlife Week is primarily celebrated at home and in local communities, many organisations participate by hosting events, such as:
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Wildlife trails at garden centres like Beetham Nurseries.
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Children’s wildlife education sessions and craft workshops.
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Live online talks with conservation experts.
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Open gardens and biodiversity tours.
Check with local councils, wildlife trusts, or nearby botanical gardens to see what’s happening in your region. You can also visit websites like awarenessdays.com or wildlifetrusts.org for national event listings.
Garden Wildlife in Urban Areas
You don’t need a sprawling garden to make a difference. Even in urban flats:
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Hang window boxes with bee-friendly flowers.
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Place a bowl of water on your balcony.
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Grow herbs like thyme and oregano, which attract pollinators.
Every space counts. The smallest plot or balcony can become a mini wildlife haven with the right plants and attitude.
How Schools and Families Can Participate
Garden Wildlife Week is a fantastic opportunity for educational activities:
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Build insect hotels as a class project.
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Go on a mini-beast hunt in the school garden.
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Create a wildlife diary to track birds and bugs you see each day.
These activities not only teach science and nature appreciation but foster a sense of environmental stewardship from a young age.
Share Your Wildlife Garden
Get involved online by posting photos and stories about your efforts using the hashtags:
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#GardenWildlifeWeek
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#WildlifeFriendlyGardening
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#BackyardBiodiversity
Join thousands of others on Instagram, Twitter (X), and Facebook to swap ideas, celebrate successes, and inspire others to take action.
Conclusion: Your Garden Can Make a Difference
Garden Wildlife Week 2025 is more than just a celebration—it’s a call to action. By transforming our gardens, patios, and balconies into vibrant ecosystems, we’re contributing to a nationwide effort to reverse wildlife decline, protect pollinators, and reconnect with the living world.
So this May, whether you’re planting a wildflower patch, digging a mini-pond, or simply letting your grass grow, remember that every little action helps. The more we do in our own backyards, the greater the collective impact on Britain’s wildlife.
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