Wildlife Gardens
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Wildlife Garden Design
Wildlife gardens are a truly fantastic way to make your home a haven for all things wild.
For many years people have obsessed about the perfect lawn and pretty flowerbeds free of weeds and clutter. In recent years however people have become more adventurous with the type of landscape they want to see when they open their patio doors. Many young home owners go for a ‘zero maintenance approach’ paving over large parts of their patch and of course they want an 'artificial lawn’. Such a minimalist approach seeking the modern garden style rarely ends well with the power of nature exploiting every nook and cranny. Many people learn the hard way that no garden is zero maintenance.
For many years people have obsessed about the perfect lawn and pretty flowerbeds free of weeds and clutter. In recent years however people have become more adventurous with the type of landscape they want to see when they open their patio doors. Many young home owners go for a ‘zero maintenance approach’ paving over large parts of their patch and of course they want an 'artificial lawn’. Such a minimalist approach seeking the modern garden style rarely ends well with the power of nature exploiting every nook and cranny. Many people learn the hard way that no garden is zero maintenance.
We Are Based in Amersham, Buckinghamshire and serve West London and surrounding counties
Wildlife gardens work with nature and should be the representation of the wild landscape on your doorstep. Intelligent wildlife garden design should however aim to integrate the home with the natural world. natural gardens harmonise the relationship between our stressful lives and the tranquillity of nature. Exposure to natural landscapes and wildlife has been proven to reduce stress and make us happier. The spiritual power of nature should not be underestimated and wildlife gardens hold the key daily excitement.
A well designed wildlife garden should be a harmonious place for both people and wildlife. They should provide food and shelter whilst allowing people to get close to and experience nature. The joys of nature gardens are endless, if planned correctly they can surprise in their ability to be mixed with opposing themes providing colour and all year interest.
A well designed wildlife garden should be a harmonious place for both people and wildlife. They should provide food and shelter whilst allowing people to get close to and experience nature. The joys of nature gardens are endless, if planned correctly they can surprise in their ability to be mixed with opposing themes providing colour and all year interest.
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Spatial arrangement
Our main task when designing a wildlife garden is to integrate spaces for wildlife security, people and transitional zones between them. Small mammals such as hedgehogs will need people ‘no go zones’ these will encourage them to feel secure and nest in your garden. The transition zones between our world and theirs is where the magic happens, you should be able to have many wild encounters with your local wildlife. This is why wildlife garden design is such a specialist process balancing and integrating our worlds. Wildlife gardens are also importantly for people there should be places to play games, entertain and relax.
Our wildlife garden designs utilise landscape elements such as raised decks, wild hides and structural planting . These place us at the centre of the action whilst giving nature security and us a front row seat. We plan to combine naturalistic habitats, planting types, nesting opportunities, garden hydrology, topography, microclimate and habitat creation. By utilising these elements we can sculpture custom built wildlife gardens which are beautiful as well as functional.
Our wildlife garden designs utilise landscape elements such as raised decks, wild hides and structural planting . These place us at the centre of the action whilst giving nature security and us a front row seat. We plan to combine naturalistic habitats, planting types, nesting opportunities, garden hydrology, topography, microclimate and habitat creation. By utilising these elements we can sculpture custom built wildlife gardens which are beautiful as well as functional.
Wildlife garden elements
A successful wildlife garden will be as diverse as possible in its landscape types and planting. It is important that the scheme is still a relaxation haven for people and easy to manage.
Meadows
Wild meadows are a fantastic alternative to a lawn. Wild flowers can add a burst of colour to your garden and give security to insects and small mammals. We like to create transitions from mown lawn to wild meadows and use meadows as transitional habitats.
Woodland
You do not need large trees to create a great woodland, garden habitat. Areas of bark chippings with artistically placed log piles and woodland herbaceous perennials create amazing woodland habitats. Fruit trees can be combined with small shrubs to create woodland edge habitats which will become a Mecca for local wildlife.
Native planting
Native planting will give your wildlife garden design the edge. Native plants have less need for attentive care and irrigation. Native plants also give local species the food and shelter they are used to providing optimal conditions to thrive.
Ecological planting
Ecological planting although not native provides great food and nectar for local wildlife. For example many wildlife garden designers use Buddleia in their designs. Butterflies love these shrubs as they are high in nectar mean while being native to South East Asia. Planting ecological non native plants also improves your planting pallet boosting colour and all year round interest.
Nesting
Nesting opportunities can be created in your wildlife garden by creating shelter via dense vegetation. Nesting boxes, hibernacula’s, and manmade caves and tunnels can create nesting within the design scheme.
Nooks & Crannies
The design process will help us integrate nooks and crannies which will serve as great hiding places for wildlife and enable you to get ever closer to them as they feel secure. Nooks and crannies can come in the form of dry stone walls or old decaying log piles.
Outside living
Raised decks, patios and wildlife spotting areas will be incorporated into your wildlife garden design so you can live outside and at one with nature. Your garden should be home to wildlife but just as important a place you relax and enjoy.
Wetlands
Water is one of the best ways to encourage wildlife to your garden. Not only does ecology need to drink many need water to complete their life cycles. Our wildlife garden designers can integrate wetland habitats in an effective way for your wild sanctuary.
Our design process
We try to keep our design process as easy for you as possible. We can provide an initial consultation free and conduct a site survey and initial rendered plan with sections for an average sized garden for £650.00. Extra detail including specific planting drawings construction detailing will be extra but can be discussed during consultation.
Detailed construction drawings for specific layouts can be avoided if we are appointed to build the project. This will keep the design cost low and allow flexibility to the construction allowing the wildlife garden to evolve during the build. At Ecospaces we are passionate about wildlife gardens and put in many extra details during construction with enthusiasm for the perfect end result. We also create fully edited videos of our wildlife gardens from start to finish and to establishment so you get an ongoing record of the development process.
Detailed construction drawings for specific layouts can be avoided if we are appointed to build the project. This will keep the design cost low and allow flexibility to the construction allowing the wildlife garden to evolve during the build. At Ecospaces we are passionate about wildlife gardens and put in many extra details during construction with enthusiasm for the perfect end result. We also create fully edited videos of our wildlife gardens from start to finish and to establishment so you get an ongoing record of the development process.
A wildlife gardener designer should be knowledgeable about the existing ecology present on your site in order to enhance its biodiversity and natural aesthetic.
At Ecospaces our knowledge of ecology, landscape design and construction mean we are leading experts in wildlife garden design with some of our most successful wildlife garden projects having been completed in London, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire.
Please contact us today to discuss your wildlife garden design.
At Ecospaces our knowledge of ecology, landscape design and construction mean we are leading experts in wildlife garden design with some of our most successful wildlife garden projects having been completed in London, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire.
Please contact us today to discuss your wildlife garden design.
