Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust, and designer Sam Galloway have joined forces to create an RHS-supported wildlife garden specifically designed to encourage the declining species.

Often mistaken for wasps and hornets, hoverflies are a vital part of the ecosystem. They are the second most significant pollinator after bees, eat aphids, provide food for birds and help to break down organic matter. Their distinctive markings and colours have gained them creative names, from the batman hoverfly to the footballer hoverfly – and yet a 44% decline in their distribution means hoverflies are now a red-listed species. 

Elesha Searles, Community Nature Advisor at Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust, says, “Hoverflies are truly the unsung heroes in our gardens, and everyone can create spaces to help them to thrive. No space is too small: even a small yard can make a wonderful habitat for hoverflies. By creating spaces that cater to every stage in a hoverfly’s lifecycle, we can help hoverflies to thrive once more and help to halt the decline of the species.”

There are several different ways you can help hoverflies in your garden. Planting easily accessible flowers with open petal structures such as nasturtium, aubretia, yarrow, oxeye daisy and ivy offers plenty of food for hoverflies to thrive. Creating areas of pooled water and leaf litter offers a water source, and the perfect conditions for hibernation and shelter as the hoverfly moves through its lifecycle.

As Jo Rawson, Community Engagement Manager at Yorkshire Wildlife Trust explains, “Many species such as the tapered drone fly and batman hoverfly rely on water for egg laying and the larval stage of their life-cycle. An old bucket or container left tucked away with plenty of rotting leaves and some sticks will be perfect, and before you know it, you’ll be spotting hoverflies in your garden. For the Hoverfly Haven we’ve used beautiful old stone troughs to create this habitat.”

The centrepiece of the garden will be a magnificent willow sculpture of a hoverfly created by Leilah from Dragon Willow. Wild at Heart, a local community group in Rotherham, have helped to shape the garden design by creating willow hoverflies to bring the planting to life. The group works with adults with mental and physical health disabilities to actively participate in green social prescribing and nature-based wellbeing activities.

Designer Sam Galloway says, “Designing the Hoverfly Haven garden has been a joy — a chance to fuse storytelling, ecology, and craft into something lasting. Collaborating with the RHS, Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust, and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust has been deeply rewarding. It’s a privilege to work with teams so driven by purpose. As a designer, I’m drawn to projects that resonate beyond shows and seeing the Wild at Heart group shape the garden with their willow hoverflies has been a highlight. I’m proud this garden will live on at Clifton Park — rooted in community and built for both people and pollinators.”

Jenny Laville, show manager at RHS Flower Show Wentworth Woodhouse, says, “The Community Cubes are one of the most popular aspects of our shows and it’s especially exciting for the RHS to be partnering with local groups passionately championing wildlife. We can all learn how to become a hoverfly hero with this beautiful and informative garden created by a talented young designer.”

The Hoverfly Haven cube garden at Wentworth Woodhouse will be on show from the 16th to the 20th July and visitors can pre-book their ticket to see it here: RHS Flower Show Wentworth Woodhouse 2025 / RHS Post-show, the garden will be relocated to create havens for hoverflies at Valley Wildlife in Rotherham and Wild at Heart’s community garden at Clifton Park, with thanks to Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, enabling local people to enjoy the garden for years to come.