Your selection

Stunning paved garden space with seating area and potted plants

From green deserts to wildlife havens: Transforming your new-build garden

Published 27/05/25

National Garden Wildlife Week is a celebration of the wild visitors we share our outdoor spaces with—birds, bees, butterflies, and beyond. But in many newly built homes, the outdoor space starts as little more than a blank canvas: a patch of turf, a fenced boundary, and not much else. While neat and low-maintenance, these gardens often lack the diversity that local wildlife needs to survive. They're what ecologists increasingly refer to as “green deserts”—green in colour, but barren in life.

Highlighted by Maisie McKenzie, Biodiversity Manager at wienerberger UK, this concept of the "green desert" applies not just to gardens, but across large swathes of farmland and rural countryside. Though it may seem surprising, biodiversity is now declining faster in the countryside than in many urban areas. Cities—not usually associated with nature—are quickly emerging as new biodiversity hotspots, thanks to growing awareness, better planning, and community-led greening efforts.

That means your garden, no matter how new or small, has the potential to play a vital role in reversing the UK’s biodiversity decline.

What is a green desert?

Urban areas are quickly becoming biodiversity hotspots. Species like swifts, hedgehogs, and pollinators are increasingly adapting to life in our towns and cities. With over 70% of UK land used for agriculture, gardens provide crucial “stepping stones” for wildlife, helping species move, feed, and thrive.

5 easy ways to rewild a new-build garden

New garden with black bifold doors and wild plant garden

1. Let Part of Your Lawn Grow Wild

Instead of mowing everything flat, leave a corner of your lawn to grow out. This allows wildflowers like clover, daisies, and dandelions to bloom—great early food for pollinators.

Beautiful brightly coloured flowers and wild plants

2. Pick the Right Plants

Not all flowers are created equal when it comes to biodiversity. Aim for: Native species like foxglove, cowslip, and bird’s-foot trefoil and seasonal variety so something is always in bloom.

Landscaped area with shrubs and plants climbing up a brick wall

3. Use Every Surface

If your space is compact, think vertically:

Train climbers like honeysuckle or ivy up a fence
Use tiered planters or wall baskets for layered planting

stunning detailed brick wall surrounded with colourful potted tall plants

4. Build in Shelter and Shade

Wildlife needs more than flowers. Think:

Long grass for insects and small mammals
Bee and Bird Bricks for sheltering wildlife
Shrubs or climbing plants for nesting birds

Close up picture of green, white and pink wild flowers

5. Avoid Chemicals

Skip the pesticides and herbicides—they harm insects far beyond the ones you’re targeting. A wildlife garden will eventually manage pests naturally with the help of ladybirds, lacewings, and amphibians.

The bigger picture: Every garden counts

National Garden Wildlife Week isn’t just about admiring nature—it’s about acting locally to support wildlife nationally. Whether you have a balcony, a courtyard, or a typical new-build garden, your outdoor space can help reverse the UK’s biodiversity decline.