These woody plants provide structure in the garden all year round, nooks and crannies for overwintering insects, and sites for birds to roost or nest. Any dense plant, especially if evergreen, provides shelter and cover for birds, and a larder of creepy crawlies.

Additionally pollen- or nectar-laden flowers, plus fruit, may be beneficial, in addition to providing a colourful display for you.

In no particular order:

• Virginia creeper Parthenocissus
• Buddleia (Buddleia) - the well-known butterfly bush.
• Virburnum(Viburnum bodnatense)(winter-flowering),
• Broom (Genista)
• Rock rose (Cistus)
• Escallonia (Escallonia)
• Ivy(Hedera) produces flowers in autumn and winter once it runs out of things to climb upwards; nectar is valuable for bees and other insects that are out and about in mild winters.
• Mahonia (Mahonia)
• Holly (Ilex)
• Mountain ash or rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) - for its pollen and fruit.
• Rhododendron (Rhododendron)
• Berberis (Berberis)
• Blackberry (Rubus)
• Flowering currant (Ribes)
• Fuchsia (Fuchsia)
• Honeysuckle (Lonicera)
• Jasmine (Jasminum)
• Lavender (Lavendula)
• Lilac (Syringa)
• Rose (Rosa) - single flowered shrub roses.
• Skimmia (Skimmia)
• Spindle (Euonymus europaeus)
• Spiraea (Spiraea)
• Weigela (Weigela)
• Yew (Taxus)
• Hawthorn (Crataegus) - double-flowered types do not produce berries.
• Ceanothus (Ceanothus)
• Aucuba (Aucuba)
• Cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus)
• Privet (Ligustrum)