When considering the installation of an artificial lawn, many people express concern over the effect it may have on wildlife. While its true that synthetic grass itself doesnt support much wildlife, there are plenty of other ways that you can entice a variety of birds and insects into your garden.

Interest the insects

Having a selection of bright flowers doesnt only make your garden look attractive, it also encourages bees. There has been concern over the past few years about the dwindling number of bees, so choosing flowers such as snowdrops, sunflowers, peonies, lilacs and honeysuckle will provide them with plenty of nectar, which they convert to honey to feed upon, and facilitate pollination of your flowers, helping your garden stay varied and healthy. Selecting plants that flower for longer periods of time will ensure the bees continue to return to the garden.

Flowers also support ladybirds, as these lovely insects feast on pollen and pest insects. Herbs such as dill and fennel are popular with these spotted creatures, and planting them in pots will both spice up your cooking and give the ladybirds somewhere to live. Marigolds and nasturtiums are favourites with aphids, and where there is an abundant source of aphids, ladybirds will gather. This does mean you have to resist the urge to use insecticides although they kill pests, they also kill the ladybirds when they consume them.

Shallow water goes a long way to attracting insects too. Both bees and ladybirds are drawn to sources of fresh water that they can access easily; these can come in the form of a bird bath with stones for them to stand on, a pond with a small rill or waterfall, or a simple water feature.

Bring the birds

Bringing the birds to your garden is about more than just hanging throwing some bread crumbs onto the lawn during winter frosts and snows. Birds are a fabulous asset to a garden not only are they entertaining to watch, they also provide pest control by snapping up unwanted slugs and snails.

According to experts, birds can be fed all year round without the extra cuisine denting the number of insects they dispatch. There’s a huge variety of options on the market, but sunflower seeds, canary seed and hemp are certain to attract some feathered friends. Put them into a tube shaped feeder and the birds will come and go at their leisure. Water for drinking and bathing is also important too. The RSPB suggests a bath that slopes from 2.5cm to 10cm deep as these are suitable for a range of species.

One of the pitfalls of attracting birds is that it tends to result in the interest of neighbourhood moggies. To stop cats from getting too close to the bird table or bath, plant some prickly shrubs such as Darwins Barberry around the base. Itll keep them away and produce berries for the birds to eat in autumn.

As for plants, birds like the cover of shrubs, so low bushy plants like pyracantha are ideal, as are arches or walls covered with climbing plants for a safe, higher viewpoint. Trees are, of course, good for nesting hawthorn and laurel hedges work well for gardens without room for large trees. If space is limited, a good old fashioned bird box will provide an ideal place to rear babies.