Helpful wildlife that keep pests out of the veg patch A pond in, or near, the veg patch would encourage amphibians to breed. A typical design is circular or kidney shaped with a deeper area of 60-90cm and graduating sides to create shallows, but if this sounds like too much work you can create a shallow pond just 2m in diameter with a maximum depth of 30cm, or even sink an old bath or Belfast sink into the ground. The most important consideration is to use rainwater (from your water butt if necessary), as tap water is likely to contain chlorine and chloramines, which are harmful to aquatic life. For best results add a variety of floating, submerged and marginal plants such as frogbit, hornwort and water forget-me-not to provide shelter for tadpoles and aquatic invertebrates, and make sure amphibians and hedgehogs can enter and exit the pond safely by adding some large stones or a log or branch. Make a log pile Log piles provide shelter and food for amphibians and a wide range of spiders and insects, as well as a breeding habitat for wood-boring beetles. The insect activity will also attract pest-eating birds and hedgehogs to your plot. To create the best habitat for the widest variety of wildlife, use logs from local, native trees, but if you can't get hold of any, use whatever you can find - even sticks or bought logs destined for a wood-burning stove. If you can, choose a shady site for your habitat as it will remain cool and moist - perfect for amphibians. Partially bury the bottom layer and fill a few gaps with fallen leaves, moss and soil. Make leafmould Leafmould is the gardener's friend, reinvigorating the soil while creating habitats for pest-munching wildlife. If you have a large plot and a good source of leaves, why not make a bespoke leafmould cage using four wooden posts and some chicken wire? Use wire cutters to make gaps of 15cm at the bottom for hedgehogs to enter and exit, and then fill the cage with leaves. The leaves will take up to three years to turn into crumbly leafmould that you can use as a mulch, but while it's breaking down it will provide food and shelter for all sorts of creatures, including hedgehogs and amphibians. Erect bird boxes A well-placed bird box attached to your shed will encourage caterpillar and aphid-eating birds such as blue tits to nest on your plot. It's important to choose the right spot for your box, as prospecting birds are unlikely to nest somewhere with strong sunlight, a prevailing wind, or where there's a lot of other bird activity (for example if the box is too near a feeding station). Fix the box securely, tilting it forward slightly, so any driving rain will not end up in the nest. Grow nettles Even a small patch of nettles will attract the nettle aphid (Microlophium carnosum), which will in turn attract aphid-eating ladybirds to your patch. The nettle aphid only visits nettles, but because it emerges earlier than other aphids, it brings ladybirds to your veg patch long before other aphids have had the chance to build up their populations on your roses and broad beans, so they're on hand to tackle early infestations. Lure frogs into your greenhouse Many gardeners talk of frogs and toads taking shelter in growing bags or among piles of plant pots in their polytunnel or greenhouse. But by creating mini amphibian habitats such as a small rock, log or stick pile, you can make this environment even more attractive to amphibians. If you have soil borders, consider creating a damp retreat by placing a small paving slab or broken plant pot on the ground (raising one end on stones to create a narrow gap if you need to) and covering it with leafmould or more soil. Ensure amphibians have an exit route - dig a hole if possible or leave the door open in summer. Plant flowers A strip of flowering plants - particularly umbellifers such as fennel, angelica, dill and coriander - will attract hoverflies and lacewings, whose larvae feast on aphids. Angelica is also thought to attract common wasps, which will destroy anything from aphids and other flying pests to small and large white caterpillars. Leave beds over winter Seedheads left standing over winter will provide a valuable source of food for birds, but foliage left to rot will provide overwintering habitats for insects, amphibians and even hedgehogs, which will be on hand to eat pests in early spring. On a veg patch it pays to be vigilant - clear away plants which could be harbouring diseases, such as potatoes, tomatoes and brassicas, but consider leaving less vulnerable plants like peas and beans until spring. The best garden pest controllers Blue tits and great tits scour gardens and allotments forcaterpillars and aphids to feed their young Hedgehogs conduct night patrols, feasting on beetles, leatherjackets, caterpillars and slugs Wasps hunt caterpillars, flies, aphids and other invertebrates Frogs, toads and newts eat snails, slugs and weevils Ladybirds, hoverflies and lacewings eat aphids Ground beetles eat slugs and snails, some will attack aphids Wildlife-friendly pest control Sometimes you do have to take matters into your own hands, but by choosing wildlife-friendly methods of control you can avoid harming beneficial creatures. Kill slugs without harming hedgehogs and slow worms by luring them to their death using beer traps. Ensure the traps are proud of the soil so beneficial ground beetles don't fall in. Copper mats or a thick layer of crushed eggshells and even coffee grounds can deter slugs and snails from eating your plants. Nematodes naturally kill pests such as slugs and vine weevil, without poisoning the soil or harming other wildlife. Horticultural fleece can protect brassicas from insects pests such as aphids, cabbage root fly carrot fly, flea beetle, onion fly and whitefly. Fine netting can prevent small and large white butterflies from laying eggs on brassicas. How to avoid wildlife casualties on the plot Keep pea netting 30cm off the ground so hedgehogs can travel beneath it without getting stuck Ensure wildlife can exit your pond safely by creating shallow edges or placing a large log in the water that can act as a ramp. Check long grass for sheltering wildlife before strimming or mowing Take care when turning your compost heap Use an incinerator to burn waste or build bonfires just before setting fire to them to ensure no wildlife has taken residence in the pile. Use wildlife-friendly alternatives to slug pellets (see above), or if you have to use pellets, choose ones which don't contain metaldehyde and pick up dead slugs and snails as soon as possible, to prevent other wildlife from eating them. Avoid dismantling sheds in winter, spring or summer, as hedgehogs may be nesting or hibernating beneath them. October is a good time to do this. Reader offer The Slug X trap has already won a number of 'Best Buy' recommendations and was used by independent testers for The Daily Telegraph, who caught 147 slugs in just one night! It also collected snails. Pour beer into the wells and, with the tight-fitting lid in place, the smell of beer builds up inside and lures pests into the trap. Once inside, they can't find their way out and end up falling into the beer. Buy the wildlife friendly Slug X Trap from the Telegraph Garden shop for £8.99. Or buy 3 for the price of 2 for only £17.98, saving £8.99. All prices plus £4.99 p&p. Allow 21 days for delivery