Buddleia and butterflies are a wildlife match made in heaven but there are a host of other ways plants and animals interact – now’s the nation’s chance to share similar stories and help build a picture of what works well for wildlife in our gardens.

When you watch wildlife in your back garden, on your roof terrace, balcony or window box, what’s your favourite plant for attracting wild creatures? What creature does it attract? What do they use the plant for? Wild About Gardens, a major project between the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and The Wildlife Trusts (TWT), is calling on everyone to help build a picture in a nationwide survey, the ‘Wild About Gardens Wildly Attractive Survey 2007’, and help investigate attraction between species.

The online questionnaire, which runs until 21 June, asks people to declare their favourite plant for attracting wildlife in spring and which wildlife they have spotted on it. Anyone can take part by completing the survey at www.wildaboutgardens.org. This is the first of four seasonal surveys which will run through 2007/8.

Morag Shuaib, The Wildlife Trusts’ gardening for wildlife project officer, said: “My small urban garden has been busy with all kinds of creatures using different plants this spring. The star of the show has to be the Clematis montana. This humble climber is often seen in many gardens and you may not give it a second thought. But this spring, as every spring, it has been awash with pale pink flowers giving out a beautiful delicate scent.

“Best of all, a pair of nesting blackbirds have found a place within the tangle of old growth and have successfully raised a brood, safe from local cats. Watching the first comings and goings of the couple was really exciting, and hearing the gentle tseeping of the baby blackbirds just after they’d hatched was the icing on the cake.”

Simon Thornton-Wood, director of science & learning for the RHS, explains, “Each year more and more people are becoming interested in encouraging wildlife into their gardens. The responses we have collated from previous surveys is invaluable, however, we still need more knowledge on plant combinations, location and gardening practices. This intelligence is vital to gain a greater understanding of what makes a successful wildlife garden. We are encouraging gardeners across the UK to provide us with this information and help us create a haven for wildlife.”

For those without access to a garden of their own the RHS is encouraging community gardeners, schools and local neighbourhood groups to introduce wildlife through a special category in the national Britain in Bloom campaign. www.rhs.org.uk/britaininbloom