Autumn brings many changes to gardens and the countryside. Tidying-up for winter may be a priority in parks, with removal of summer bedding and clipping of shrubs and hedges, but these activities can create disturbance for wildlife at a time when many mammals and insects are searching for safe wintering places. In the garden, try and resist the urge to tidy too much!

Leaves that are starting to fall now will be broken down by many invertebrates, especially earthworms, to replenish soil nutrients. In turn, earthworm activity will attract the interest of song thrushes and blackbirds. If you feel you have to remove leaves, put them in a pile in a sheltered spot. A hibernating hedgehog may make use of this. The leaves will eventually rot down and produce leaf mould, which is a good mulch or compost for the garden.

October, rather than spring, is the best time of year to plant new perennial plants in gardens since the soil is still warm enough to allow the roots to grow. They can therefore get well-established before the flowering season. Another advantage is that you may be able to buy them more cheaply at this time of year. You can also be economical by dividing established perennials rather than buying new plants. Add to next year's nectar supply by choosing some cottage garden plants that are known wildlife attractants, and include some wildflowers in your borders too. Check the lists of plants elsewhere in this website for more information.

Planting now, with a mulch of home-made compost, will save on watering new plants next spring. Summon up your reserves of patience and tolerance and try to involve children in the planting! They love helping and this is a great way to start getting them interested in gardening and wildlife.

When planting wild flowers, try to use those that are grown locally as these will often be better for local wildlife than those grown elsewhere in Europe for example. Consider the flowering times of your chosen plants in order to provide a supply of nectar and pollen for insects all through the season. You will benefit too of course by ensuring yourself a non-stop display. Think also about the structure of the garden so that you have plants of varying heights to provide habitats and structure for different creatures.

Autumn is a good time to clear out sheds and greenhouses. When doing so, watch out for butterfly pupae (and adult butterflies hibernating) and leave them where they are. Take great care when disposing of unwanted pesticides and herbicides and never put these poisons into public drains. Contact your local waste authority (County Council or Unitary Authority) for advice on safe means of disposal. Products for disposal should not be mixed together, and containers should be clearly labelled. When moving the waste product make sure it is properly sealed so that no leakage is possible. Many public amenity sites will have special secure areas for chemicals and paints: these waste products are normally incinerated.

You can put up new nest boxes now for birds like tits, sparrows, robins, wrens and others. As well as checking them out as potential nest sites for next spring, some small birds may roost in them overnight. Take the opportunity to remove all old nest material from existing nest boxes. This will prevent the build up of pests and diseases and help ensure that boxes are occupied year after year.

Outside lights may still attract a few moth species on warmer evenings, including the beautiful angle shades moth which looks like a crumpled autumn leaf. The last warm days of the year may also see migrant butterflies like red admirals visiting your garden. Try mashing up some bananas and putting them on your bird table to see if you can attract them.

Why not download the Natural England leaflet Enjoying moths and butterflies in your garden (pdf, 1.04 MB). This is a recent addition to our gardening series and has more than 70 excellent photographs.

Greenfinches and goldfinches are making use of natural food around green spaces and wasteland, attracted to the seeds of teasels, thistles, knapweed and evening primroses. You can encourage them to visit your garden by leaving Cosmos plants to seed. Look out for the juvenile goldfinches which have no red on their head.

Blackbirds, thrushes and other birds relish the ripe berries of Berberis, Cotoneaster, Pyracantha and the native rowan. As these berries ripen, you may notice that the red ones are always eaten before those that are yellow or white. Starlings especially will now be devouring elderberries by the score.

Jays are now busy collecting food stores for the winter in the form of acorns. Some of the buried nuts are forgotten and those which have not been nibbled may eventually produce new seedlings, thus providing food for future generations. But given that it may be 20 years before an oak tree produces acorns ? a far longer period than the lifetime of a jay - this is real long-term planning which humanity would do well to emulate !