A GARDEN that is busy with butterflies, bees, birds and other wild creatures is not just fun, rewarding and educational for us, it is a step towards restoring the natural balance of things. Even the smallest garden can be made into a sanctuary for wildlife. A couple of trees (native species are best) underplanted with shrubby hollies, hazels, honeysuckle, and with woodland flowers, such as bluebell, wild garlic and primrose, make a miniature woodland. This will attract woodlice, insects, spiders and other creepy-crawlies, and in time, birds will appear to feed on these.
A pond, no matter how tiny will also attract birds and, if you're lucky, dragonflies and frogs. Easily available plants that attract butterflies are buddleia, lilac, lavender sweet rocket and marjoram. The list of bee-plants is endless but it is believed that they are most fond of white or bluish flowers. Hoverflies (who prey on greenfly) go for open-faced flowers like the poached-egg plant, hardy geraniums, sweet William and wallflowers.
And finally, if you have a patch of nettles, leave them be: they have many uses, one being that they provide food for the caterpillars of certain butterflies.