Our October speaker was Nic Wilson on a very topical subject “Gardens for Climate
Change”. She’s a writer, editor and has work published across many journals, magazines &
lately written a nature memoir called “Land Beneath the Waves”. Nic showed us what
happened to our gardens this year, which we could all relate to. We must adapt to change by
choosing the right plant in the right place. She experiments in her own garden to see what
plants colonise naturally. Euphorbias are happy in dry conditions and can spread from quite
afar. A reference was made to Beth Chatto’s gravel garden & what works well there. The
speaker is very fond of lavenders & living in Hitchen where the farm grows over 50 different
varieties, is one of the main growers in the UK. These plants can withstand very dry
conditions. Other eg. that do well are perennial geraniums, red campion, Japanese
anemones, blue spire salvia, perovskia and many more. She recommends not to cut back in
the Autumn, as the dead plants provide a habitat for insects & the seeds are a source of food
for the birds. There are ways of telling if a plant is suitable for dry conditions by its leaves:
Small – Pittosporum: Tough, Leathery – Elaeagnus: Silvery, Grey – Helichrysum: Hairy –
some species of Salvia: Succulent – Sedum. Nic did touch on peat-free gardening, to reduce
the amount of CO2 being released into the atmosphere. The sphagnum moss that grows on
the surface is like a sponge for absorbing water, which is important in areas that are prone to
flooding. She is passionate about her subject & forever thinking of the future for her teenage
children. SO, MAKE CHANGE HAPPEN.
