The links below provide up-to-date information on wildlife gardening, natural history, wildlife conservation, activities for families, and citizen science schemes.
Wildlife Gardening Supplies
British Pond Plants
British Pond Plants supplies British native pond plants grown by specialists Salix in Norfolk. The plants are grown without the use of chemicals from seed sourced in the UK. British Pond Plants is part of Habitat Aid Ltd (see below).
Emorsgate Seeds
A supplier of native wildflower seeds of wild British origin. Emorsgate Seeds is run by botanists and ecologists committed to promoting the use of seed of wild British plants. Emorsgate collect stock seed from wild plant populations across Britain, before growing them as seed crops on their farms in Somerset and Norfolk.
Habitat Aid
Supplier of British native wildflower seed, aquatic plants, trees, hedging, and heritage fruit trees, sourced from a community of small specialist nurseries and growers across the UK. Through its network of partners, Habitat Aid also offers groundwork, planting and seeding, and a range of other ecological services.
Mason Bees UK
Supplier of affordable bee hotels for Red Mason (Osmia bicornis) and Leafcutter (Megachile spp.) bees.
Nurturing Nature
Supplier of premium quality solitary bee nest boxes complete with observation windows, and probably the best bumblebee nest boxes on the market.
Really Wild Flowers
Supplier of plug plants, bulbs and seeds of native British wildflowers.
Rosybee
Supplier of organically grown plants known to be attractive to bees and other insect pollinators.
Wiggly Wigglers
Online shop selling a wide range of natural wildlife gardening supplies.
Wildlife Gardening Advice, Natural History & Conservation
Bees, Wasps and Ants Recording Society (BWARS)
BWARS is a subscription based volunteer national recording society dedicated to studying and recording bees, wasps & ants (aculeate Hymenoptera) in Britain & Ireland. The Society exists to gather distribution and biological data on the aculeate Hymenoptera (which includes many important pollinators), to provide advice and training, and to promote understanding of these fascinating insects.
Buglife
A charitable organisation devoted to the conservation of Britain’s invertebrates. The website has a section dedicated to Wildlife Gardening for invertebrates.
Bumblebee Conservation Trust
The Bumblebee Conservation Trust was established in response to serious concerns about the plight of these fascinating and important insects. In addition to supporting bumblebee conservation, the trust aims to raise awareness and increase understanding about bumblebees, as well as the social, economic, environmental and cultural benefits provided by insect pollinators.
Butterfly Conservation
A fantastic charity focusing on the conservation of Butterflies and Moths.
Centre for Wildlife Gardening
The London Wildlife Trust’s Centre for Wildlife Gardening is an education centre in Peckham, south London. Its the perfect place for families, school children, gardeners and wildlife enthusiasts to learn about wildlife gardening in a welcoming green oasis. The centre’s demonstration wildlife garden has a range of habitats including ponds, wildflower meadow, chalk bank, woodland copse, bog garden, roof garden, and a herb garden. There is also a visitors centre, classroom, plant nursery and raised beds demonstrating permaculture.
Field Studies Council
The Field Studies Council (FSC) is an environmental education charity. Each year the FSC runs hundreds of courses for people of all ages and abilities at its 17 field centres across the UK.
Flora Locale
A charity promoting the conservation and enhancement of native wild plants. Flora Locale specialise in large-scale habitat restoration and conservation projects using native wild plants, shrubs and trees. The ‘Restoration Library‘ contains some excellent technical guidance notes.
Freshwater Habitats Trust
Creating a pond is the single greatest thing you can do to dramatically increase the wildlife in your garden. The Freshwater Habitats Trust is a charity dedicated to protecting native freshwater life. If you need information about creating and managing ponds, this is the place to go.
Plantlife
Plantlife is a British conservation charity working nationally and internationally to save threatened wild flowers, plants and fungi.
Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Wildlife Gardening Advice
Wildlife Trusts Gardening Advice
Citizen Science
Citizen science initiatives offer you the opportunity to explore your environment, learn about the wildlife right on your doorstep, and support scientific research and wildlife conservation. The schemes listed below are open to everyone, whatever your age, background or level of ability.
The Jersey Biodiversity Centre
The Jersey Biodiversity Centre collects and computerises Jersey’s natural history and biological records and makes the data available to amateur and professional naturalists, ecologists and researchers.
The Guernsey Biological Records Centre
The Guernsey Biological Records Centre (GBRC) is run by Environment Guernsey on behalf of the two partners, La Société Guernesiaise and the States of Guernsey. The Centre works with a wide range of organisations, individuals and government bodies to provide information about the species and habitats found in our islands. It collates, manages and stores data that describes our local biodiversity and forms an evidence base to which decision makers can refer when making decisions which may impact on wildlife or wildlife habitat.
The UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme
Coordinated by the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, this scheme is the first comprehensive health check of Britain’s pollinators. The scheme aims to establish how insect pollinator populations are changing across Britain. Anyone can participate by carrying out a Flower-Insect Timed Count (FIT Count): A simple survey of abundance and flower visitation of pollinators to target flower species from a specified list.
Big Butterfly Count
The Big Butterfly Count is a nationwide survey that takes place in July and August with the aim of helping conservationists assess the health of our environment. It has grown to become the world’s biggest survey of butterflies, with over 100,000 people taking part in 2018, submitting 97,133 counts of butterflies and day-flying moths from across the UK.
The Buzz Club
Members of The Buzz Club can participate in a range of fun and educational citizen science projects. You can become a member for £2 per month.
The Great British Bee Count
Friends of the Earth’s Great British Bee Count is a citizen science initiative focusing on bees. The data gathered as part of this scheme feeds in to the UK Pollinator Monitoring Scheme mentioned above. Its a great way to learn more about bees and provides invaluable data about a range of species.
The Open Air Laboratories (OPAL) network
OPAL offer a range of citizen science projects and organise various nature events and workshops across the UK.
Garden Bird Watch
Organised by the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO), Garden BirdWatch monitors the changing fortunes of birds and other garden wildlife. Observations collected by its network of citizen scientists are analysed by BTO researchers and published in leading academic journals.
iRecord
iRecord is a website and smartphone app for creating and sharing biological records. Developed by the Biological Records Centre (BRC) on behalf of the National Biodiversity Network (NBN), the goal of iRecord is to make it easier for wildlife sightings to be collated, checked by experts and made available to support research and decision-making at local and national levels in the UK.
