A wildlife pond can attract many
beneficial visitors to your garden.

• Encourage pollinating insects by planting nectar rich flowers. Single, rather than double, flowers are a better choice or use complex flowers or 'pincushions' e.g. Echinacea and Rudbeckia. Many bee species are in decline and need a helping hand.

• Provide water for birds and other creatures to drink.

• Put up nest boxes for birds facing east or north.

• Provide food for birds in feeders hung from locations that cats can’t access.

• Make a butterfly drinker to encourage these beautiful creatures to your garden.

• Establish a pond to encourage frogs and other wildlife. Frogs are a great natural way to keep slugs and snails at bay. Even a submerged bucket will do the trick. The sides need to be shallow or have stones in to allow creatures to enter and leave the water. Thaw ice in winter by placing a pan of boiling water on the surface of the ice or toxins will build up and kill hibernating male frogs.

• Use environmentally friendly garden fertilisers, sprays and other products.

• Make a bug hotel for insects to hibernate over winter. Bamboo canes tied together, a few old logs in the corner of a garden, or seed heads left on perennial plants all help. Ladybirds eat lots and lots of plants-munching aphids.

• Try composting to recycle uncooked vegetable peelings and garden waste and grass clippings. It's a good way to enrich garden soil and give stronger, more free-flowering plants.

• Conserve water by installing a water butt. It will also reduce your water bills. Plant drought tolerant plants – usually ones with silver foliage, and those with small or spiky leaves.