Making a Difference To Nature

How can my little garden make a difference to nature?
The answer is, just by being a garden! Gardens host approximately half of the UK’s butterfly, amphibian and reptile species, and more than 40% of bird and mammal species. They also store an estimated 158m tonnes of carbon and contain an area three times bigger than all of the UK’s national nature reserves combined!
Of course there is the issue of quality – paving and artificial grass would not qualify. A garden must have plants by definition, and plants are host to other forms of life. You may assume the wildest gardens are the best for biodiversity, and yes leaving areas untouched for a time is important, but it turns out the interference of gardeners doing different things is also valuable, it creates a mosaic of habitats which caters for different species. And when gardens join together like in the image, the effect is far greater because nature can travel through.
This winter is a great time to start thinking about increasing your garden mosaic. Here are some ideas: plant nectar rich flowers (nectar feeds the adults e.g. butterflies); plant a native tree or hedge (native plants feed the young e.g. caterpillars); make homes by allowing fallen leaves and wood to break down in piles; allow a nicely-shaped patch of grass to become long and flowery; or bring in the whole new element of water, encouraging loads more plants and creatures with a pond!

Sarah Ashworth, Garden Designer, wildlife specialist.
sarahashworth.co.uk #sarahashworthgarden