Buckinghamshire homebuilder calls for local residents to join the wildlife planting revolution

Business and Economy, Environment

Local house builder Barratt and David Wilson Homes and the RSPB is calling for Buckinghamshire residents to join the wildlife-planting revolution after a YouGov survey revealed that three quarters of people are now doing at least something in their garden to help wildlife.

An urban wildlife garden in Brighton, East Sussex, which is planted largely in pots. Andy Hay (rspbimages.com)

The survey, commissioned by the RSPB as part of their Nature on Your Doorstep campaign and sponsored by Barratt and David Wilson Homes, also revealed the wide range of ways that people are already gardening with wildlife in mind.

Over two in five people consider how a plant can benefit pollinators when choosing what to grow in their garden, just under a quarter (24%) leave areas of grass to grow long for nature, and nearly half of people feed birds (49%).

With UK gardens and balconies covering over 4,000km2, twice the size of Greater London, all these actions put together create a vital network of refuges for wildlife.1

Adrian Thomas, the RSPB’s wildlife gardening expert, said: “I’m thrilled to hear how many people are now taking steps to help wildlife in their gardens and outdoor spaces. It feels like a movement is underway in which people are recognising that our gardens can be wonderful, shared spaces for us and for wildlife, to the benefit of all.

“To play your part, the best and easiest place to start is to grow more plants. They provide varied, healthy food sources, and offer shelter and nesting spots. Plants are also beautiful, colourful and richly scented, making outdoor spaces more welcoming, relaxing, and interesting for all of us to enjoy.

“So why not give planting a go, maybe starting with some wildflower seeds? They produce beautiful flowers in just a few weeks, and you’ll be surprised at how quickly you see pollinators buzzing into your garden!”

Planting for wildlife in gardens and outdoor spaces presents a fantastic opportunity to help struggling wildlife and is also a hugely popular activity. When asked in the survey to choose what one thing they would most like to do in a new empty outdoor space, half of people (50%) chose having more plants, having a wildflower meadow (16%), planting fruit trees (11%), other kinds of trees (6%), shrubs (7%), or space for more flowers (10%).

John Dillion, Managing Director at Barratt and David Wilson Homes South Midlands, said: “It’s great to see more and more people taking the plunge and prioritising wildlife in their gardens.

“This is one of the reasons why we work with the RSPB to give homeowners guidance on how best to do this. Such simple things as leaving grass long and installing bird feeders can make a big difference to local wildlife.”

Here are five wildlife-friendly, easy-growing plants to get anybody started:

  • Sunflowers – beautiful and easy to grow from seed, these classic flowers are great for pollinators and are a great food source for birds when they set seed
  • Cornfield annuals – for just a couple of pounds you can have the glow of red poppies and blue cornflowers within weeks
  • Mini-meadow – just let parts of your lawn grow for a few months, or even better until late summer, and be rewarded with drifts of clovers and other meadow flowers
  • Lavender – the familiar lovely-smelling herb that’s brilliant for bees and butterflies
  • Foxgloves – tall purple, pink and white flowers that are bee magnets

The RSPB and Barratt Developments have been working together since 2014 to show how new homes can help nature and support wildlife.

Barratt Homes Northampton is currently building in Buckinghamshire at Brooklands, Woburn Downs and Fairfields in Milton Keynes.

David Wilson Homes Northampton is also currently building at Woburn Downs, as well as at Brooklands Park in Milton Keynes.

Barratt Homes South Midlands is currently building in Buckinghamshire at Eagles’ Rest in Milton Keynes.

David Wilson Homes South Midlands is also currently building at Eagles’ Rest, as well as at Lavendon Fields in Lavendon.

For more suggestions, tips, and inspiration on how to give planting a go and join the wildlife-planting revolution visit www.rspb.org.uk/NatureOnYourDoorstep.

To find out more about Barratt and David Wilson Homes’ developments, please visit www.barratthomes.co.uk or www.dwh.co.uk or call the sales team on 033 3355 8481 or 033 3355 8486.