Why? Because bringing nature back is one of the most powerful (and joyous) things we can do for our planet
HAPPY FACT
Wild things, you make our hearts sing
Two things to share here:
Earlier this month Sir David Attenborough told the nation “The truth is that the UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries on the planet.”
You just wouldn’t think that, would you?
But also…the total area of gardens in the UK is almost 5 times larger than that of our entire National Nature Reserves! This is a colossal resource sitting in our back yards and we can be part of the solution by rewilding them into mini nature reserves…!
It’s easy - as essentially it involves doing LESS. And it’s so joyous to watch nature coming back. Is there anything more wonderful? If you haven’t got a garden, a window box helps and there’s community spaces (even a grass verge will do!). EVERYTHING counts.
5 easy tips to rewild your garden:
What we’re really doing is stepping back a bit and allowing our gardens to mimic the structure of wild places…with a spot of help.
This month is No Mow May and that’s because one of the best things we can do is to leave our lawns unmowed - it creates a haven for bees, butterflies and wildlife. So the challenge for May is to leave it completely unmowed! If that’s stretching it for you, a great idea is to reserve the third of the lawn closest to the house - and leave that alone completely. And always mow around the dandelions. They are brilliant for bees early in the season when there aren’t many flowers around.
Keep your garden clippings - twigs and leaves, etc. - and leave them in little piles, under hedges and shrubs. They decompose and are little havens for vital creepy crawlies, creating natural bug hotels - a 5 star hotel if you include a puddle.
Keep some water in the garden. A shallow dish (like a planter bottom) with stones so little birds don’t drown and hedgehogs (if you’re lucky enough to have them) can get in and out. Wildlife love and need water so you should see some happy tweeters pretty soon, having a splash about. Heaven! Here’s how to make a bird bath.
Plant some wildflower bee bombs, they are wonderful for pollinators. You can get these in the shop. You simply scatter them and they will take seed and then… poppies, cornflowers…! Make sure they are native, it’s what the pollinators need.
Create little dips and hollows. Dig the odd little mini crater here and there. This mimics what wild boars do. Brilliant for microhabitats and allows seeds to germinate.
Enjoy! AND know that you are part of the great rewilding of Britain with each little thing you do. How fabulous is that?
These tips courtesy of Make It Wild and Rewilding Britain
We…
Aimee: I now find myself saying to people who pay me a garden visit that I’m deliberately leaving my lawn at the moment…so brilliant to have an excuse to lay around in the sunshine instead! You’re welcome, little creatures.
Sonia: My ‘lawn’ looks like a lockdown haircut at the mo with the dandelions getting priority seating. Bird swimming pools filled and robins splashing, bug hotels booking up, planted some wildflowers last year that I hope will come up. This is my kind of gardening!
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“Where the wild things are...”