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At holidaycottages.co.uk, we’re always looking for ways to support our guests, property owners and the communities we operate in. By sharing expertise through our Owner advice centre and celebrating our community partnerships, we’re determined to continue making positive contributions to the places in which we live, work and holiday.
In this blog, we combine garden inspiration for owners with our ongoing partnership with the RSPB to share some top tips on how to enhance and rewild gardens to support local wildlife.
In 2020, we were excited to launch a partnership with the RSPB, and since 2021 we’ve supported several RSPB woodland projects by restoring 1 square metre of British woodland for every booking made at holidaycottages.co.uk. So far, we’re proud to have restored over 900,000 square metres of woodland! Click the link below to learn more about the partnership or scroll on to read the RSPB’s garden advice.
Learn more about our RSPB partnership

Creating a wonderfully wild holiday
We spoke to the RSPB’s garden expert, Adrian Thomas about ways that holiday let owners can help to save nature, and in doing so, make for an even richer experience for their guests. From creating a mini meadow to installing a birdbath, Adrian provided his ten top tips.
He said, "holidaycottages.co.uk's properties nestle in some of the best areas of the UK with different—and exciting—wildlife nearby. Sometimes wildlife will come right into the garden, especially if little steps are taken to encourage it.
“So, as a holiday let owner, what can you do to make your garden as rich as possible for nature? Especially given that you might not always be around to look after it. And is there anything that your visitors can do to give you a helping hand?
"Here are my top ten wildlife-friendly features and actions that can easily be incorporated into most holiday cottages and their gardens.”

1. Create a mini meadow
Most properties have an area of lawn, often with someone living locally tasked with cutting it. Guests usually like areas of mown lawn, offering somewhere to sit or play. But most lawns have an area that could be left to grow longer in summer, and that can be brilliant for wildlife. Suddenly lawn flowers have the chance to bloom, which is great for pollinating insects, and meadow butterflies have somewhere to breed.
To make the longer grass look attractive and purposeful, mow a crisp line around it. Then cut it and remove the clippings in August or September. Overall, it means less maintenance, so what could be better?

2. Put up a bird box
Or two! Several garden bird species nest in holes, but most of our gardens don’t have trees old enough to have natural holes.
Meanwhile, our attention to DIY means newer buildings are often completely sealed. Different species need different-sized holes, so choose a box with a 28mm hole for tits, 32mm for sparrows, and 45mm for starlings. And if you have a high wall with a clear flight in, it is perfect for a swift box. Erect your bird box facing between north and east so it is out of the sun, and high enough to be out of reach of cats.

3. Install a birdbath
Birds need clean water to bathe in to keep their plumage in tip-top condition and to provide a vital drink in hot weather.
An ideal birdbath is like a ‘puddle on a stick’. In other words, the basin should be wide and shallow; if the birdbath is elevated a little it helps ensure they are safe – a soggy bird is a vulnerable one. Guests will willingly top it up if a jug is left for the purpose (with a little note of encouragement!).

4. Plant a tree or shrub
So much wildlife benefits from the food-fest and shelter of trees or shrubs. Even in a small garden, there is always room for a small tree that won’t outgrow its space – a fruit tree is ideal.
They come grafted onto rootstocks that will determine the ultimate size of the tree, so read the label carefully and you will be rewarded with blossom in spring and fruit in autumn. It will provide nest sites, food and hideaways for birds and other wildlife.

5. Add a pond (or a pond in a pot!)
This is probably the single best thing you can do for wildlife in a garden. It takes a bit of effort to put one in (but rather less than most people think) and then it largely looks after itself.
Be mindful of child safety and ensure it is safely fenced in, or include a ‘pond in a pot’ instead. It will give pleasure to guests throughout the year.

6. Put out food for the birds
I love it when I arrive at a property and find there is a supply of bird food, with feeders already in position for me to fill. Supplementary food like this can be a lifeline for many species and can bring birds into close view.
Remember, it is vital that feeders are kept clean, and food isn’t allowed to go stale.

7. Plant wildlife-friendly perennial plants and bulbs
The fact they come up year after year means less work for you. Choose reliable cottage garden favourites with nectar-rich flowers, such as catmints, geraniums, sedums, lavenders and marjoram. My RSPB Gardening for Wildlife book has a catalogue of 500 wildlife-friendly plants for gardens.

8. Include suggestions for local nature sites to visit in the welcome pack
Many guests will welcome the tips and can be invited to add their own. Looking for some inspiration? Read our blog on holiday cottages near nature reserves.

9. Ensure there is a bird book in the holiday home’s library
Three books I highly recommend are the RSPB Handbook of British Birds, the RSPB Pocket Guide to British Birds and (excuse me saying it!) my RSPB Guide to Birdsong, because in spring, it may well be that guests hear more birds than they see. For some more inspiration, read our blog on the best times of year to birdwatch.

10. Share your stories
If you own a holiday property, tell your guests all the things you are doing to help wildlife and encourage your guests to record what they have seen and enjoyed. That way, we all share the love!
Help wildlife thrive
Why do it? Well, nature is in crisis and needs our help, so anything you do means you are part of the solution. In recent years, it has become more and more clear that the actions we take in our gardens can have genuine nature conservation benefits, and the pleasure of seeing wildlife thrive as a result is priceless.
The RSPB website has advice and inspiration on all these activities and many more, so why not take a look and see what you can do to help wildlife and nature thrive?
Or, if all this talk of tweeting birds and local wildlife has inspired you, why not book a holiday cottage close to an RSPB reserve? Click the link below to explore our RSPB Showcase Collection.
Cottages near RSPB reserves