Gardens are wonderful spaces often full of fabulous colour, scent and plants, but look a little deeper and you might reveal something more – a rich biodiversity of wildlife. But do you know what’s there? 

With the UK facing a severe decline in its natural environment with significant impacts on its wildlife and ecosystems - 1,500 species are at risk of being lost completely and 54% of flowering plants have decreased in where they are found1 - gardens, of all sizes, can be a real lifeline for plant and wildlife species.  

This year the National Garden Scheme is inviting people across the UK to take part in The Big British Garden Survey, which aims to build a national picture of where wildlife is thriving in gardens and where there may be opportunities to encourage more biodiversity. By combining wildlife recording with information about garden habitats, the project will generate valuable insights into how gardens support nature. As a community science initiative, it also offers participants the chance to connect more closely with the natural world, something research shows can benefit wellbeing as well as biodiversity.  

“With around 2.5 million acres of gardens across the UK, these green spaces provide vital stepping stones for nature and are becoming a lifeline for many plant and wildlife species,” says National Garden Scheme Chief Executive, Dr Richard Claxton. “We know from previous studies that gardens are often rich in wildlife and biodiversity, but this project gives us an exciting opportunity to link wildlife records directly with information about gardens themselves.”  

The survey asks everyone with a garden, large or small, an allotment or balcony, to record the wildlife visiting their green spaces. “Taking part is simple - record the butterflies and other insects that your garden attracts. If you already monitoring other wildlife in your garden, you can also contribute those records. Mapping your garden and answering a short habitat survey will provide useful context about the features that might be supporting wildlife in your garden too,” adds Richard Claxton. 

National Garden Scheme President, Alan Titchmarsh adds “Gardens are not only hugely important in terms of caring for the landscape and for wildlife, but they also give us an opportunity to make a real contribution to the welfare of wildlife. They make a positive contribution to the health of the natural world – a hands-on way for all of us to do our bit in looking after the planet. The results of this important new survey will help us understand the role that thousands of gardens play and to champion ways in which gardeners can continue to support wildlife conservation in the UK. I would encourage everyone with a garden to explore their own patch of earth and contribute to this fascinating survey.”  

The survey runs from April until the end of September 2026 with results published by the National Garden Scheme in early 2027. You can find out more and register to take part here  

https://ngs.org.uk/the-big-british-garden-survey/