FEWER than 40 per cent of people are willing to make their gardens more wildlife-friendly.
A study led by Chester Zoo and Nottingham Trent University found that only 38 per cent of more than 230 householders in Cheshire and North Wales were open to adding features like ponds, hedgehog highways, and "overgrown" areas.
The research highlights the growing importance of gardens for wildlife as urban areas expand.
Kelly Hitchcock, lead researcher and PhD student at Nottingham Trent University’s School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences, said: "With the amount of promotion you see of these features, like ponds and hedgehog homes, I expected people would be happy to do these things.
"It was quite surprising how many people weren’t, even when they were pro-nature.
"There are barriers – sometimes out of their control – which stop them."
The study, published in People and Nature, is one of the few to explore not just the benefits of wildlife-friendly gardens, but whether people are actually implementing these changes.
Respondents were asked about their willingness to add 10 specific features, including log piles, bird baths, and compost heaps.
Researchers then analysed why some were reluctant to include them.
Common barriers included lack of space, concerns about pets, and uncertainty about how to build or maintain the features.
Compost heaps and ponds were the least popular options, while sowing wildflowers was the most widely accepted.
Ms Hitchcock said: "Even if someone wants to rewild their garden it really restricts them if they don’t have the space, and current trends toward hyper-dense housing may be contributing to this.
"The data suggests we can’t rely on individuals to make wildlife friendly changes at the scale that’s needed.
"These features need to be built into urban planning and policy."
Dr Leah Williams, lead conservation scientist at Chester Zoo and co-author of the paper, said that broader policy changes are needed to address biodiversity loss in urban areas.
She said: "We’d still encourage people to do what they can, whether that’s planting wild native flowers in a window box, or creating a mini-pond with a bucket will make a difference.
"You can also look into community schemes, like the Networks for Nature project which aims to link up habitats in Cheshire.
"Interconnectivity is really important to species and biodiversity should be factored in at every level."
The research underlines the need for a coordinated approach, combining individual efforts with supportive policies and urban design.
With an estimated 88 per cent of UK residents having access to a garden, these spaces are becoming increasingly important to the survival of native plants and animals.
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