The Wildlife Habitat Garden

Divided into different habitat types and areas: Dragonflies and Amphibians; Bats and Moths; Beetles; Garden Birds; Butterflies; Reptiles, and Bees, the garden has been planted accordingly. As it matures and evolves the garden will attract a huge array of insects and small birds.

The chalk mound provides the specific habitat required by Blue butterflies, rock piles to encourage basking lizards and bug boxes, and log piles to support Stag Beetles and over-wintering bug life. Bat boxes provide necessary roosting sites for these small mammals.

Two meadow areas have been planted with several hundred native wildflower plants, to form a Bee Meadow and a companion Butterfly Meadow. These are adjacent to a large pond surrounded with native plant species to encourage Dragonflies and Damselflies.

Alongside, the garden Bird Bank is covered with large shrubs for nest sites and planted with Teasels, Thistles and garden perennials with seedheads that are both strikingly ornamental and useful potential food sources for birds throughout the Autumn and Winter. Spring bulbs include dwarf Iris, dwarf Narcissus and Muscari. Spring perennials include Pulmonaria, Helleborus and Euphorbia. Summer flowers include Astrantia, Sedum, Verbena, Solidago and Salvia species. Meanwhile fragrant shrubs such as Daphnes and Viburnum, and climbers including Passion flowers have been planted to attract Bats and Moths.

Even during the Winter months there is still so much colour and form out in the garden. Regularly updated, the latest pictures of Pensthorpe's newest garden can be seen on our news page.

For more helpful advice on how to attract wildlife into your garden, watch this interview with Pensthorpe's Head Gardener, Imogen Checketts and BBC Springwatch presenter Chris Packham.