The Wildlife Gardener by Kate Bradbury focuses on creating wildlife habitats in the home garden. The book will help you welcome everything from birds to creepy crawlies. Each section includes 10 things to do for the particular species of wildlife. Most of the included projects are very easy and can be done with items already in your garden. I think my favorite is the bumblebee nester. The final plus of this book is the list of plants including trees to plant for wildlife. This is a great book for gardeners who want practical advice for welcoming wildlife into the garden.

A very well put-together book, starting with intelligent reasons for creating habitat for insects, birds, lizards, etc., in a world where too much habitat destruction takes place. A great guide for making ponds, boxes for birds, etc. Very informative.

wild lifes are needed to flourish our garden. In this book there are ways to attract wildlife like bees , birds , bats etc., to our garden.........

This is the type of book with wonderful pictures and easy suggestion that made me really want to have a garden! The way the author explains all the little tips and tricks to have the major numbers of insects and wild animals visiting you is super clear and it really seems that everything is possible.

Questo é il tipo di libro che mi fa desiderare tantissimo un giardino! Il modo che ha l'autrice di spiegare tutti i trucchi possibili per attirare il maggior numero di insetti ed animali selvatici é chiarissimo e sembra quasi che tutto sia possibile.

THANKS TO NETGALLEY FOR THE PREVIEW!

I live in a completely different climate than the one described in this book, so it's not really much use to me. Also some of the advice given in the book is just down right dangerous. DO NOT PICK UP A BAT LAYING ON THE GROUND. They carry rabies.

The wildlife gardener by Kate Bradbury, published by Pen and Sword, UK
is filled with wonderful advice and tips and usable information to attract a wide variety of wildlife to our gardens. The book is filled with beautifully photographed wildlife from insects to mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles.

The book begins with an impassioned and well reasoned introduction making the case for counterbalancing in some small way the loss of habitat and unchecked pesticide use which is devastating our natural environment and having such a terrible impact on our ecosystem. I've been a beekeeper and gardener for years and I've personally seen the effects in the dwindling numbers and varieties of insects and wildlife which I've experienced on my property. I have been moving toward a more natural setting in my own gardens and was looking for tips on expanding my own use of native food plants for more species. The advice included in this book is usable and not too intimidating for a casual gardener to implement. There are many small projects in the book which could easily be built in a short amount of time (several in a single weekend). Many of the projects are not invasive or costly and make a lot of sense, such as a shady rock or wood pile for habitat for insects, amphibians or small mammals, plans for building a shallow pool or a bug house for insects. The projects and coordinated planting suggestions take up roughly the first half of the book.

The second half of the book continues the theme with a lavishly photographed introduction to common types and species of wildlife including birds, mammals, amphibians & reptiles, insects, and butterflies and moths. Each entry has a description, including proper nomenclature for most of them, along with specific advice for 'How to attract them'. The species included are slanted toward mainland Great Britain, but there are many species which are common to a much larger range.

Roughly the last 25% of the book is a listing of appropriate plants which are valuable food or habitat resources for indigenous species. There are planting recommendations with explanations of why they're useful and for which species they provide food or shelter.

The author also makes a very good case for using native plants which aren't overly bred for extreme displays, but provide nectar and pollen which are usable and accessible.

At the end of the book is a troubleshooting guide on how to deal with injured or sick wildlife (call the experts) and a listing of potential occurrences for each season. The reference section is also full of links for further research and reading. It's slanted toward the UK, but includes resources which are also valuable for non-UK gardeners.

The book is quite short, at 120 pages, but packed full of usable, well written, beautifully photographed advice.

Highly recommended. Four stars.

Wonderful book! I, too, wanted to create a garden that was enticing to wildlife in my tiny suburban backyard. I succeeded, too! This book will help anyone interested in bringing nature into their year. Plant the right stuff and you may even get deer!

This book is a great way to learn how to make any form of wildlife habitat in your own garden. No matter what you are trying to attract, from frogs to bee's and insects, butterflies and more, there are concise tips and guides for making items like bird boxes and ponds.

No matter what space you have access too for making a garden, with a this book, you can learn how to lay a garden completed with whatever habitat attraction you desire.

Filled with beautiful images and helpful advice, Kate's guide is a great way to aid you to create your dream garden.

Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!