When it comes to our garden wildlife, it's important to know what's what. It's a sad truth that people are effectively blind to the critters they can't identify. Even the big insects can be confusing for some: we might think we all know what a wasp looks like, but often honey bees have been mistaken for wasps and the pest controller called rather than a local apiarist.
Fortunately, in this digital age of smartphone apps, image recognition software and online ID guides, it's never been easier to tell different species apart. “Knowing what things are is essential, and naming them is the first step,” says ecologist Dr Mike Wells, director of Biodiversity by Design. “If you don't know it's a stag beetle, you're not going to be able to discover all the wonders of the thing.”
Since 1970, much of Britain's biodiversity has tumbled off a cliff, with 41 per cent of UK plant and animal species in decline. Oncecommon garden creatures now appear on lists of conservation concern: hedgehogs, red squirrels (since the Victorians introduced the grey); house martins, mistle thrushes, swifts and greenfinches; at least six of our 18 native bat species;
