Creating a Bird Garden Against the Odds: Tips for Overcoming Challenges

Handing commercial space back to Nature at The Haith's Bird Food Centre in Louth, Lincolnshire, UK.

The home of Naturespace. 

When we re-located to Louth in March 2023 our outside area was little more than the leftovers of a building site.

However, the essentials were there… a yard area and two car parks but we had plans for much more.  The bones of our wildlife ponds had been dug out for us, so the heavy work had already been done – the site just needed to be developed.

After nearly a year our plans gathered pace and with the help of Martin Woods, MVO RVM a horticulturist, who has recently retired as the Head Gardener on the royal estate of Sandringham, our garden has been transformed.

The brief was wildlife friendly planting, as we want to attract as many insects, bugs, and wildlife as possible.  The estate surrounding us is very industrial and in this busy environment we had a vision of creating an oasis for flora and fauna.

Over the last couple of weeks, we have had deliveries of many plants and trees including lavenders, hosta, acers, silver birch trees, grasses, gunnera, and much more.

The area around our decking and wildlife pond has been edged with old railway sleepers making an attractive area for our team to rest and relax.

The location of our shop entrance needed attention too and this has been planted with trees and grasses, all designed to enhance the visitor experience as well as to help wildlife along. 

We are all looking forward to watching everything grow and mature but most of all enjoying our new garden in the knowledge that we are helping local wildlife to survive.

Written by Angela.