Wildlife-lovers avoid pesticides to encourage minibeasts and birds into their gardens
![Ladybird on a Nasturtium leaf](https://gardenorganic-assets.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/images/_1920x1080_crop_center-center_60_line/Ladybird-nasturtium-wildlife-gardening-biodiversity.jpg)
According to the survey published in Hort Week, of 1,000 UK adults surveyed by garden and conservatory furniture retailer, Alfresia.co.uk, a third have invested in products that conserve and encourage wildlife into their gardens and outdoor spaces in the past 12 months, such as bird feeders (32%), bird nest boxes (29%), and insect houses (16%).
The top five most popular ways British adults found to encourage wildlife into their gardens were:
- avoiding use of pesticides (68%)
- allowing grass to grow longer in certain areas (37%)
- composting (26%)
- creating rock gardens (21%)
- planting specific flowers to encourage bees (17%)
Some seven per cent keep chickens, while four per cent keep bees in their outdoor space.
More than half (56%) leave food for birds, while 14% monitor the types and species of bird that visit their gardens. Those aged 25-34 are the age group which came second with regards to making the most effort to conserve or promote wildlife.