As the weather gets warmer, we start to look again at our outside spaces. Britain is one of the world’s most nature-depleted countries – but we can all help do something about this. There are 23 million gardens in this country - and whether you have an acre of land, a front garden or a window box, you can help the environment and the climate by gardening in sustainable, wildlife-friendly ways. Here are some tips:
Turn a grey space green:
Adrian Thomas of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), Author of ‘Gardening for Wildlife’, recommends starting small: “The No 1 piece of advice is always: grow
something. Turn a grey space green. If you haven’t got a lot of time or knowhow, just grow what you want. Choosing plants that are known to be good for wildlife is just the icing on the cake.”
If you have a sunny spot for a pot, try planting lavender, which honeybees love – or if it’s in the shade, try nepeta (catmint) which is good for butterflies.
Try to keep away from chemicals:
Over the years we’ve got used to using weed killer, slug pellets, pesticides, insecticides, and herbicides in our gardens, but there’s now strong evidence that these are getting into the water supplies, and that they’re killing friendly insects. So pull up weeds by hand, or make your own gentle, non-toxic weedkiller from just three ingredients (white vinegar, salt and washing up liquid). Look up ‘eco-friendly weedkiller’ on the internet or at the library. You can find tips for managing garden pests and diseases without chemicals here too.
Use peat-free compost:
Peat bogs are unique habitats, and act as carbon sinks, absorbing excess carbon in the atmosphere and helping fight climate change. But extracting peat for our gardens is threatening their future. Luckily, peat-free compost is just as good, and you can buy it from any garden centre.
If you have just a little space for a container you can make your own compost using garden waste and kitchen scraps. If you do it right, it’s not smelly and works brilliantly. Look up ‘making compost’ online or look it up at the library.
Save water:
With climate change, our summers are getting hotter and keeping our gardens watered can be a challenge. Southern Water offers water-saving home visits, which can include free water butts and water-saving garden hose spray heads. Visit Water-saving home visits to find out more. Water your garden during the early morning or late evening when temperatures are cooler to minimize water loss.
On hot days in particular, the wildlife in your garden will thank you for offering them some water too. Just a shallow dish part-buried in a flower bed, with a few stones for insects to land on, can be helpful and may also attract frogs and toads, or a larger shallow vessel on a post or tree stump can act as a great bird bath.
Feed the birds:
Get a bird feeder and watch the birds enjoy the wild bird food you offer. You can get small ones that fix onto the outside of a window, or larger ones to hang from trees or fences. This is especially important in the winter months when birds may struggle to find the energy-rich sources of food they need. Remember to position your feeder out of the way of the neighbourhood cats and foxes!
Put a bell on your cat’s collar:
Cats are natural hunters, and if you’re not careful, the wildlife you’re carefully attracting can end up as their supper! To combat this, add a bell to your cat’s collar to warn birds and small animals that your feline friend is about.
Create a ‘hedgehog highway’:
Hedgehogs are Britain’s best-loved mammals, but their numbers are dwindling. Simply adding a small hole 13 cm square to the bottom of your fence can help hedgehogs get around from garden to garden to find food. Visit Hedgehog Street at
www.hedgehogstreet.org/help-hedgehogs/link-your-garden/ for advice.
Forget fake grass
“Fake grass is still so popular and it’s heartbreaking,” says Helen Bostock from the Royal Horticultural Society. “There isn’t anything good to say about it. It’s not providing cooling; it’s not helping soil and therefore earthworms; it’s not absorbing pollutants; it’s not creating nesting sites for ground-nesting bees.” Go for real grass or plant ground-covering herbs like camomile or thyme instead – they’ll provide a flat green growing surface, and they’ll smell great!
Swap and share:
If your plants are getting too big for your space, try dividing them and giving some away to family, friends and neighbours – and look out for plant swaps locally to exchange your spare plants for something new. The BBC Gardeners’ World website has detailed instructions on how to divide your plants successfully.
Take Your Time:
You don't need to change your whole garden overnight: it’s a gradual process, so take small steps each season. Start by asking yourself what changes you can make this year to ensure your garden is more wildlife friendly. Over time, these small efforts will accumulate and create a thriving garden ecosystem.
Sit Back and Watch:
Take time to enjoy your garden. "
Make time to sit, have a drink, and watch the wildlife,"
says Helen Bostock. “
You don’t have to be always doing, doing, doing!” Observing the fruits of your labour and the creatures that visit your garden can be really rewarding and provide you with a sense of peace and accomplishment. And the latest research shows that spending 20 minutes just sitting in a natural environment three times a week can have a strong positive impact on your physical and mental health.
Sustainable gardening helps the environment but also creates a beautiful and thriving space for you to enjoy. By adopting these practices, you can contribute to a healthier planet while enjoying the many benefits of a vibrant and wildlife-friendly garden.
References:
Water Saving-Home visits:
www.landsearch.southernwater.co.uk/help-advice/how-to-save-water/water-saving-home-visits
Hedgehog Street:
www.hedgehogstreet.org/help-hedgehogs/link-your-garden