Be a hoverfly hero

Hoverflies are helpful garden guests. They eat aphids, recycle waste and pollinate plants. But, like many other insects, hoverflies need our help.

Become a hoverfly hero by making more space for these incredible insects. Whether you have a garden or just a window ledge to spare, you can lend hoverflies a hand. 

You can help hoverflies by providing some of their favourite plants, creating pollen and nectar sources that adults can visit throughout the year. But we have to remember to cater to young hoverflies, too. Shrubs, log piles and wild patches in a garden can all be home to hoverfly larvae. Some species thrive in pools and watery hollows - why not welcome them to your garden with a bespoke hoverfly lagoon?

Pledge to make a pollinator planter or hoverfly lagoon and help us show hoverflies some love.

I'll be a hoverfly hero!

Learn more about hoverflies and how to help them in our new booklet. From their four-stage life cycle to migration and mimicry, there's so much to discover about these two-winged wonders. The booklet also includes spotting sheets for adults and larvae, as well as guides to making a pollinator planter and hoverfly lagoon.

Download your guide in English

(Welsh version coming soon) 

The Wildlife Trusts and RHS set up Wild About Gardens to celebrate wildlife gardening and to encourage people to use their gardens to take action to help support nature. Many of our common garden visitors – including hedgehogs, house sparrows and starlings – are increasingly under threat. But together we can make a difference. Find out how our green spaces can provide for wildlife.

Click on a theme below to find out how to look after different species in the garden!

Slugs and snails Lawns Ponds

Worms Bats Bees Beetles

Hedgehogs Butterflies Swifts, swallows and martins