Annuals
Alyssum – Attracts hoverflies and parasitic wasps
Basil – Flowers will attract bees and other insects, it’s aromatic foliage is said to repel aphids.
Cosmos – Attracts lacewings and hoverflies.
Dill – Flowers attract lacewings, ladybirds, hoverflies and butterflies.
Marigold – Attracts butterflies and hoverflies, roots produce a secretion that kills root eating nematodes.
Poached egg plant – Great for attracting hoverflies
Sunflower – Bees go mad for these and the birds love to eat the seeds in Autumn.
Perennials
Blackberry – Very good for birds, provides excellent nectar for butterflies and bees, berries attract mammals.
Broom – Good provider of nectar for bees.
Buddleia – A valuable nectar source for butterflies and bumblebees.
Chives – Attracts bees and butterflies.
Fennel – Lacewings, ladybirds, hoverflies and butterflies love this plant.
Garlic chives – Attracts bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects. a good companion plant for roses as the smell repels aphids.
Honeysuckle – The flowers attract night flying moths and the berries are a good food source for birds in Autumn.
Jasmine – Attracts bees by day and the strong beautiful scent attracts moths at night.
Lavender – Bumble bees adore this plant, also attracts hoverflies and butterflies.
Sage – Attracts bees and butterflies.
Speedwell – Attracts ladybirds and hoverflies.
Stinging nettles – An excellent food source for the larvae of butterflies, such as the Red Admiral, Comma and Peacock varieties.
Teasel – Provides a winter food source for finches and its flowers provide a good nectar source for butterflies. Especially good for bumblebees.
Thistle – The Seed heads are loved by all kinds of finches, especially gold finches.
Thyme – Attracts bee’s hoverflies and many more.
Trees and Shrubs
Alder – Seeds attract finches, siskins and all types of tits.
Ash – The seeds are a good food source for bull finches.
Beech – The seeds are a food source for small mammals such as mice and voles and birds such as the chaffinch. It also provides food for some species of moth larvae.
Blackthorn – The flowers provide nectar for spring butterflies and the sloes are a good Autumn food source for many animals.
Cherry(wild) – The fruits are eaten by many bird species.
Crab-apple – It’s fruits are a good food source for birds and small mammals.
Dogwood – A good source of food for birds.
Elder – An excellent plant attracting many insects, especially hoverflies it’s berries provide food for many birds
Field Maple – A good nectar source for bees.
Hawthorn – The berries are a vital winter food for birds and it supports many insect species. Provides important nectar early in the year.
Hazel – Hazel nuts are a good source of food for many mammals and birds, its foliage provides food for moths and other insects.
Oak – Mature oak trees can support a huge number of insect species which provide good habitats for insect eating birds, such as tree creepers, woodpeckers and nuthatches. The acorns provide food for small mammals.