Jack Wallington started gardening with a tiny plot in south London, before retraining in horticulture and landscape design. As he started to notice the growing numbers of insects and birds that visited his garden, he began to understand their value as part of an ecosystem, with his knowledge detailed in his book, A Greener Life (£19.99,Laurence King). Here, he shares top tips for making your garden bug-friendly.
Welcome aphids
It might sound counterintuitive, but aphids will attract lacewings, earwigs and ladybirds to your garden, who all like to eat them.
Feed caterpillars
Plant a patch of the common stinging nettle, Urtica dioica – it's the favourite food of many moth and butterfly caterpillars.
Spare the spiders
Arachnids keep other insects in check, as well as providing lunch for birds. Encourage them by planting sturdy ornamental grasses, which are perfect for web-building and stay standing in autumn and winter.
Make a home for hover flies
Plants such as fennel, ammi and yarrow are invaluable for these garden visitors, which use them as landing pads.
Give bees a grassy knoll
Clump-forming ornamental grasses, such as Deschampsia cespitosa, create a mound, and their roots make a perfect place for solitary bees to safely burrow and nest. jackwallington.com
