10 ways to help wildlife in spring

Spring is full of wonder and optimism. The days are getting longer and warmer and nature is bursting with activity as many species gear up for a new breeding season. We can all do something to make a difference for wildlife this spring, from a single simple action to an ongoing commitment, at home or further afield. Check out our guide to help local wildlife where you live.

1. Plant for pollinators

Influenced by warm, sunny days and the increasing volume and variety of flowers, the air will soon buzz with pollinators essential to our ecosystem and food production.

Some of the best plants to attract bees and butterflies in spring are native wildflower species, like viper's bugloss, red clover and wild marjoram. You can grow them easily with seedballs which can be scattered anywhere - even a 30cm container on your balcony or doorstep. They can sprout in just four weeks and with several seeds packed into each small ball, this quick and simple action can create a valuable feeding station for passing pollinators. If you have more room, spread a whole pack across one spot to transform your patch into a mini meadow that’s a magnet for bees, butterflies and other insects.

Buy seedballs from £7.

2. Offer food and shelter for hedgehogs

Hedgehogs will be hungry and thirsty as they emerge from their winter sleep so will appreciate water and food. Meat-based cat or dog food or special hedgehog food are the best options.

To make your garden safe for hedgehogs waking from hibernation, switch any chemicals like weedkiller and slug pellets to organic options. Help them hunt for worms and insects by adding a log pile to a quiet corner and helping them to enter and leave your garden easily. Adding gaps of at least 13cm x 13cm, known as a 'hedgehog highway', means they can travel freely in search of food and mates.

Hedgehogs will soon start looking for safe nesting sites ready to begin breeding around May. Give them a helping hand by leaving sticks, dry leaves and other materials, or buy or make a hedgehog house.

3. Plant trees and shrubs

Native trees and shrubs have immense benefits for wildlife – that's why our woods are so full of life. Leaves, flowers, bark and branches are home to a whole host of species. Don't doubt the positive impact of planting a single tree on your patch. Insects will feed on the leaves and pollen, and birds will eat those insects and may build their nests among the foliage. The right trees and plants in the right place may even attract squirrels, bats and other animals. Saplings planted now will increase in wildlife value with every spring that follows, as well as bringing beauty, protection from the elements and wellbeing benefits.

Buy trees from £10.95

4. Explore woodland mindfully

Spring is a fantastic time to explore the great outdoors as nature bounces back to life and shows off all its new colours and textures. Lush new leaves stretch out among the treetops, vibrant wildflowers carpet the ground and the air is filled with the sound of scampering, buzzing and birdsong. You can help wildlife during your visit, including ground nesting birds and precious flowers, with simple actions like sticking to paths, keeping dogs on leads and taking litter home.

5. Feed the birds

One of the most common ways to help wildlife in your area is to provide food and water for birds, especially in winter when conditions are tough. It’s equally important in spring, especially early in the season when nights can still be freezing and natural food sources haven't yet replenished. Extra food can help restore birds like robins and blue tits to good condition for breeding and give them the energy they need to mate, nest and raise chicks. Newly fledged birds will likely enjoy an easy access buffet on their doorstep too.

6. Volunteer

With warmer, longer days, spring is a perfect time to try volunteering in our woods. Enjoy nature in all its glory and make an enormous difference for wildlife by helping us to plant and care for woods and trees across the UK. You could take on a regular role to help with monitoring wildlife, practical woodland management and much more. 

Volunteering doesn't have to be a huge commitment – you could start small by planting trees at a one-off event, or tell us what you see happening in your garden with Nature's Calendar. 

7. Leave some longer lawn

Our lawns are mini wildlife reserves and longer grass helps lots of species. Insects and invertebrates are an important food source for birds, while common lawn plants like clover and dandelion can be a lifesaver for bees and butterflies.

Grass grows when soil temperatures are above 6C. Our Nature’s Calendar records show that on average, UK gardeners first mow after winter on 19 March, though in some parts of the UK they may mow all year. Could you wait a little longer between mows, leave an area of lawn to grow wild, or even take part in Plantlife’s annual No Mow May campaign? Keep a close eye on the life in your lawn and you could be surprised at the difference.

8. Provide nesting material

Spring is peak bird breeding season. As well as offering places to nest – in trees or nest boxes – you can lend a helping hand with building supplies for their new home. Different birds use different construction methods and materials, so try to offer a selection in small piles or packed loosely in hanging bird feeders. Useful items include twigs, leaves and other plant debris from pruning, moss raked from the lawn, feathers and straw. Swallows, house martins and blackbirds use mud to build their nests, so a muddy puddle or pond edge could entice more visitors too.

Buy bird boxes and feeders from our shop.

9. Make a pond

A pond can make a world of difference for wildlife and needn’t be big or over-complicated – you can use a half barrel, large plant pot or even a washing up bowl, as long as animals can get in and out safely. A clean watering hole can be a priceless drinking and bathing spot for birds, bats, dragonflies and mammals. Frogs may even move in during the first year! It's a brilliant way to attract spring wildlife to your garden.

Whether you sink it into the ground or keep a container on the surface, add plants around one edge to create some shade and a safe hiding spot, then fill with rainwater. Choose an aquatic plant or two for inside the pond too, making sure they're not invasive species in the UK - native species are best if you can. Don’t forget to make a sturdy entry and exit point with wood, bricks or stones, including from the deepest point in case any animals slip all the way in.

10. Build a log pile

Boost biodiversity in your outdoor space with a log pile. Placed in a quiet, shady area, the nooks and crannies will provide smaller species with refuge from hot spring and summer sunshine as well as a safe spot to hibernate when winter comes. Packed with woodlice, spiders, beetles and centipedes, it will prove an irresistible hunting ground for hedgehogs, frogs, toads, shrews and birds too.

Log piles are easy to make and can be kept anywhere, from a carefully created focal point for your garden to a bundle quickly tucked behind a shed. You can stand them vertically in planters too. Bury logs a little way into the soil to keep them damp and help attract more species.

This blog was originally published on 1 March 2023 and was last updated on 7 April 2026 to include new information.