Flower choice makes a real difference. Single-flowered varieties expose their pollen and nectar openly, whereas heavily double-petalled blooms often hide or lack it altogether. Planting in drifts rather than single specimens also helps, since it gives foraging insects a more efficient source to work through.

A pond set up with the right planting and shelter from the outset tends to attract amphibians naturally over time. Many gardeners begin with a considered selection of pond wildlife equipment chosen to suit the size of pond they are working with.

For gardeners wanting an alternative to chemical sprays, a soil-applied option is worth considering as a first step, and a good starting point is a range of slug nematodes for gardens suited to the pest in question.

Fish are worth thinking through carefully. Ornamental fish will happily eat frogspawn and tadpoles, so a pond intended mainly for amphibians is usually better left fish-free. Leaving some leaf litter to settle at the bottom over autumn also gives amphibians a place to shelter through the colder months.

Bringing these elements together tends to work best gradually, adding one or two features at a time. A useful starting point is a browse through wildlife friendly garden products UK gardeners have found practical for exactly this kind of layout.

Feeding is straightforward but worth getting right. Meaty cat or dog food, or a specialist hedgehog food, Highly recommended Site is a better choice than bread and milk, which can cause digestive upset. A shallow dish of fresh water left out overnight is just as useful as food, particularly during dry spells in summer.