2nd May – Gardening with Wildlife in Mind – Speaker Dr Chris Gibson

In May, we thoroughly enjoyed a talk by Dr. Chris Gibson on the subject “Gardening with Wildlife in mind”.

Chris is an ecologist by training, and an advisor on nature conservation. He has written numerous books on a wide range of subjects regarding wildlife.

He explained that in the last few decades, wildlife has been in decline, as ancient woodlands have been lost to developments and grassland due to agricultural intensification. With this comes global warming. Hence our gardens these days are vitally important, and we can all make a difference, no matter how small.

His main advice was to provide a better habitat for our wildlife. This can be done by stopping the use of pesticides and herbicides, making sure there is plenty of food, water, shelter and breeding sites in our gardens. Careful planting of high nectar plants and good pollinators are also important. Gorse and ivy are examples of plants that provide food throughout the year. In the winter, we can help in planting hellebores, aconites for the spring, and michaelmas daisies for the autumn.

It is important that our wildlife has plenty of water. We don’t necessarily have to have a large pond, an upturned bin lid will do. Our countryside has lost a lot of natural water sources, and what is left gets contaminated with fertilisers and other chemicals. Water provides a habitat for amphibians that feed on slugs.

Chris suggested that we don’t get carried away with the shears in the autumn and cut all the foliage back. Wildlife needs shelter in the form of conifers, heathers and grasses. Composting and plant decay is also important as mulching has many benefits. It acts as a microclimate for the insects, minimises water loss from the soil and provides nutrients.

Keeping dead wood is also beneficial, as a habitat for insects and nesting sites for birds. Quite a variety of fungi grow on dead wood, providing biodiversity.

A small patch of nettles at the bottom of the garden is good for providing food for many butterfly caterpillars. Nettles are nitrogen fixers and the leaves absorb nitrogen oxide from the atmosphere, which is a pollutant. So, if we want to help and increase the wildlife in our gardens, we have to think of what plants to put in. Flowers need to be accessible to insects, so having tight flowerheads is a disadvantage.

Chris’s final message was “Every little helps.”                

Hanna Roberts

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