Begin at the beginning
The recognition that we need to be closer to nature, and that our gardens are the very best places to do that, can be the spur we need to think about our gardens in a wilder way.
Our gardens offer us so many opportunities to increase their value to nature that it’s often difficult to know where to begin, so we need to refine our ideas to suit our site’s own unique character, its existing location, topography, soil type, planting and the habitats already present as well as potential ones.
Firstly let’s look at the surroundings of the garden and think about how it relates to its landscape, whatever that might be. There may be trees around where birds already perch, if we plant even one tree, we are creating a stepping stone for the birds to travel, not just into our own garden but through it and on to others. Better still, let seedling trees stay where they germinate, that way we know they are perfect for the conditions they have chosen.
If we have grassland around us, then a meadow lawn will extend the opportunities for the pollinating insects already in the vicinity and the birds which feed on them. Buttercups, dandelions and clover are not lawn ‘weeds’ they are native meadow species of as much value to our wildlife as any plants we might chose to grow.
Boundary hedges not only link to a farmed landscape and other gardens visually, but they act as corridors for all types of birds, insects, small mammals, and of course hedgehogs, the clue is in the name.
Let’s think about the garden as a whole, made up of a range of habitats and consider how the habitats it offers vary around the garden from open sunny areas to deep shade under trees or by a north facing wall. Most gardens, by being around a house, will already have areas with different characters.
The ‘weeds’ which like to grow in different areas give us clues to the conditions we have, allow them to stay and they will be food, shelter and even places to breed for the species of wildlife they have evolved alongside. Although, inevitably, we are custodians of our garden for a limited time, it is ours for now, so we will choose our own plants too and as wide a range as possible in the conditions we have. Diversity in planting leads to biodiversity, an all round good thing for us, our wildlife and our planet.
Water is essential to all life, so even if our garden is naturally quite dry and there is no visible water source nearby, the addition of a pond, whatever its size, is the single most effective way to enhance its value and add yet more habitats. In the water itself, at its varying depths, on the margins which are sometimes under water, sometimes not, and moving out into potential damp or boggy areas. Some of our loveliest plants are wetland natives, by using them in our gardens we are adding to our ponds’ value to wildlife.
When it comes to the natural world and the constraints or attributes of the site, if we foolishly choose to fight nature she will always win, so make friends with her from the outset, live and let live, we and our wild gardens will be all the happier for it.
For more on how our gardens relate to their surroundings please visit Our gardens in context
For more about reconnecting with nature, regenerating and helping to restore it please visit Regenerate-reconnect-restore
For more on embracing the changes we need to make please visit Embracing change
For more on the principles of disturbance, dispersal and diversity please visit Disturbance, dispersal and diversity
For more on wildlife please visit Wildlife
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