Wildlife, the birds and bees
The natural processes of seasonal change, leaf fall and decay, spring and renewal are the constant beating heart of any garden and its inhabitants which depend on these processes. From the microscopic soil organisms we don't see, to the insects, birds, mammals and amphibians we do, they all form essential parts of its web of life, but will only thrive if the conditions are right.
When we get it right our gardens become wonderfully rich and joyfully alive; when we get it wrong they are silent and soulless.
Designing gardens that are in tune with nature and the needs of wildlife has always been my particular interest. Our gardens can be wonderful wildlife habitats and refuges for declining species and as part of larger ecosystems they store carbon and water, give off oxygen, refresh and clean the air we breathe. They are shared by the animals and birds we love to see, a few we'd rather not and countless creatures we will never even notice but which are essential to its health and well being and our own too.
Good for the body and good for the soul, with opportunities for fresh air and exercise, growing our own fruit and vegetables without using damaging pesticides or herbicides, or simply relaxing and enjoying the restorative power of the natural world, what more could we ask of our gardens.
Every living creature needs shelter, food, water and a place to call home. Our gardens can provide so much to benefit our native wildlife which over recent years has become threatened, some species’ very survival endangered by habitat loss, pesticide use and persecution.
Designing and managing our gardens where wildlife takes priority, to enhance existing habitats and create new ones, will repay even modest efforts with beauty and bird song for us to enjoy, our children to learn from and help to conserve animals in crisis from bumble bees to bats, newts to nightingales and our favourite hedgehogs.
The birds' morning chorus drifting through an open window is the gentlest alarm clock and all we need to provide are the shrubs and trees for them to sing from.
The drowsy hum of bumble bees on a warm summer Sunday's afternoon is the perfect accompaniment to relaxation, they are busy searching for nectar and pollen from their preferred flowers.
Butterflies are every child's favourite, luckily most like nectar from the common easily grown flowers of plants like Buddleja but their caterpillars are much more picky, so the wider the variety of plants we grow and the more natives, then the more of these beautiful insects we will see.
Hedgehogs in the garden are delightful to see and if they choose to visit to feed, hibernate or even nest with us, they are indicators that our gardens are helping nature and increasing the habitats wildlife needs, not just to survive, but thrive.
For more on where to begin please visit Where to begin
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 the principles of disturbance, dispersal and diversity please visit Disturbance ,dispersal and diversity
For the latest Blog please visit my Blog
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