Plants that are indigenous to the local area have a better chance of growing well.

Create multiple vegetation layers for greater diversity. You could include ground covers, grasses, shrubs and trees. Dense shrubs make great bird habitat.

Pay attention to whether your chosen plants produce pollen, nectar or seeds, and what time of year they bloom. Plan your garden well and you can have flowers all year round.

Attract butterflies with local grasses, sedges and plants with small pollinating flowers.

Provide a clean and reliable water source such as a pond or bird bath.

Ensure animals of all sizes have access to the water. Smaller species may need a ramp in the form of a stick or log in order to avoid drowning.

Change the water every few days to avoid buildup of things like algae, dirt and bacteria that may be deposited by visiting wildlife.

Fallen logs, branches and tree stumps provide refuge for birds and reptiles. Organic mulch and leaf litter house microorganisms and are great for earthworms, insects and small lizards.

Do you have a tree with a large hollow? Don’t cut it down! It takes at least 100 years for a tree to develop a hollow that is suitable for use by birds and mammals.

Flat rocks placed in sunny areas can be used by reptiles and butterflies, who like to bask.

Inappropriate food can cause sickness and sometimes death in wild animals.

Hand feeding lowers an animal’s aversion to human presence and can lead to them becoming aggressive or a nuisance, or exposing themselves to unsafe situations.

Animals who grow reliant on hand-feeding can lose the ability to hunt and forage for their own food.