Take the 10% Challenge

Taking the Jordans 10% Challenge couldn't be easier. To get involved, simply pledge to set aside 10% of your outside space to create a wildlife-friendly home, which can be easily done no matter how small your space.

The idea being that if everyone in the UK dedicated just 10% of their outside space, then there would be an extra 100,000 acres of habitat for wildlife to thrive in. Ensuring future generations get to enjoy the benefits of birds, bees and butterflies and the positive impact they have on our eco-system.

Celebrity farmer and wildlife expert, Jimmy Doherty explains the drive behind this campaign, 'It isn’t widely known that Jordans is a force behind the management of 70,000 acres of arable farmland in the UK where wildlife can thrive. By caring for habitats like wildflowers and hedges, Jordans is creating homes for wildlife in the British countryside. Our ambition is to get people to take the Jordans 10% Challenge and follow this lead by creating homes for wildlife in their gardens.'

Jordans has the following top ten tips to help get you started:

1. Perennials - plant your 10% with perennials, rather than shorter-lived plants, and you’ll guarantee a happier wildlife habitat for many years to come. You could also create ‘wildlife corridors’ so the creatures in your garden find it easier to move around safely - for instance from water to bushes and plants.

2. Pollen and nectar rich flowers - growing pollen and nectar rich flowers provides an important source of protein and energy for bees and butterflies. Plant them in a sunny spot, water regularly and you’ll see them flourish - along with the wildlife they attract. And if you can, choose British species to support our native flora.

3. Boxes - all wildlife needs a safe place to live and you can help by installing boxes for birds, bees, butterflies, other friendly bugs and even bats. Needless to say, keep them out of reach of the cat, and clear out bird boxes after every nesting ready for another use.

4. Insect-tastic plants - birds prefer tasty insects to stale bread, so plant to promote the beneficial insects which birds can eat. Certain insects, such as ladybirds, can also help keep control aphids and other nasties too.

5. Bird table/feeder - be it apples, nuts, cake, cooked pasta or specialist seeds, feeding birds all year round is an easy win.

6. Nectar feeder - it's not just the birds that are easy to feed. Butterflies, bees and other bugs can also be kept satisfied with a little watery, sugary treat from a nectar feeder.

7. Water, water everywhere - upturned bin lids of water, elaborate sculpted bird baths, rogue buckets, make-shift ponds or fancy water features - whatever your preference, they are magnets for all sorts of wildlife.

8. Hanging around - hanging baskets not only look lovely but can also provide a great habitat for birds and bees - helping to make up your 10%. And if you're clever with seasonal planting, they don't just have to be for spring or summer.

9. Untidiness - fight the desire to tidy every last little bit of your garden. Small untidy areas such as a little space behind the shed can be a haven for wildlife. Piles of twigs, leaves and long grass are the perfect habitat for lots of different creatures.

10. Growing up - bare walls don't help anyone. So plant vertically, whether it's ivy up a garage wall or honeysuckle on your house. You’ll find that all sorts of wildlife will then be able to take advantage of this new foliage.

If you'd like to find out more about the 10% Challenge, visit www.jordanscereals.co.uk/10-challenge where you can also make your pledge to join the 10% Challenge, find downloadable planting guides and enter a competition to win a wildlife garden makeover.