One of the major factors in the decline of common bird species is a lack of nesting sites so putting up a bird box can make a real difference. These can be bought or home-made.

The RSPB recommends making food and water avaiable for birds all year round along. Again, feeders can be bought or made.

Creating a wildflower patch is a fantastic way to encourage biodiversity. Perhaps, leave some areas of your lawn uncut - a corner, a bank or a verge - to see what flowers pop up or you can prepare the ground and plant wildflower seeds. The flowers will be visited by many pollinators and longer grass will attract creatures like grasshoppers and crickets.

Keeping your garden pesticide free will help bees, hedgehogs, and other small wild mammals (and us!) survive.

Chemical treatments such as Roundup and slug pellets get into the food web and have implications for all species. A healthy garden should have a good balance of pests and predators. For a natural fertilizer, put some nettles in a covered container and fill it with water to make nettle tea which is full of nitrogen. Don't do this with nettles that have gone to seed unless you want more of them!

Help hedgehogs by providing food, water and a safe nesting and hibernation area.

Or add a link to the Harbourne Hedgehog Highway.

Bees are vital to pollinate both flowers and food crops. Climate change and the use of pesticides are threatening their numbers.

Plant bee-friendly plants or make a bee home to help them.

Insects are vital in managing pests and provide a food source for small mammals. A bug hotel made out of reclaimed materials will serve them well.

Trees are vital to life and help combat climate change. If you have space, planting a broadleaf is a gift to future generations or how about fruit trees for the blossom and the bounty?

Native trees grow best in our environment. Consider planting a multi-stem tree which have greater foliage mass than their single stem counterparts giving them a higher environmental rating. They provide excellent habitats for insects and birds and their aesthetic appeal is undisputed.

Additionally, mixed native shrubs and trees make an ideal hedge - providing important shelter and protection for wildlife, nesting birds and hibernating insects as well as offering food. .

Bats play an essential role in pest control, pollinating plants and dispersing seeds and so help in maintaining a healthy eco system. The only flying mammal, the 18 species of Bat in the U.K. are all under threat through habitat loss from new building to diminished woodland. Help them by siting a bat box or planting with bats in mind.

A pond is probably one of the most wildlife friendly things you can do as they cater for amphibians, insects and birds. Different depths of pond will attract different amphibians. Newts will eat tadpoles, so bear this in mind when designing your pond. If you have small children, use mesh under the surface of the water to keep them safe.

Devon Wildlife Trust has more advice on creating your own pond.

Butterflies and moths are important pollinators and according to Butterfly Conservation a well planned garden can attract over 20 species of butterfly.

Butterflies enjoy nectar-rich plants including a wide range of native plants through the seasons. Moths, like bats, benefit from night-scented plants.

Nettles are vital food sources and nurseries for butterflies and moths.