Every aspect of our lives can be rethought. Sometimes we need to make big changes. Other times, even small changes can be beneficial.
Here are some small things I do in my garden which help wildlife and show my love for nature.
This was originally all lawn. We planted a fruit patch in the middle of it. Gooseberries, jostaberries, redcurrants, whitecurrants, and an apple tree (surrounded by self-seeded wild strawberries). During the summer I have fresh berries for my muesli, and the birds get to eat their share too.
This is the first year when the apple tree has produced apples. Looking forward to them ripening!
Flowering plants that use the steps for support. On the left is clematis, which grows up and produces massive purple flowers. On the right (at the back) is a small part of the wisteria which grows there, and produces lovely lilac-coloured flowers.
Plants are slowly growing up the mesh. In the meantime, a Pagan pentacle (made from fallen twigs) casts a spell of protection.
When fencing had to be replaced, I asked the joiner to make wildlife arches. This way toads, hedgehogs etc. can always find a way through. Don’t fill the world with unpassable fences and walls! If you can’t have hedgerow, then make routes for wildlife in other ways.
Ponds are great for wildlife. This was stagnant when I moved in, with no way out for wildlife. Now it is rich in flowers and insects. The pond iris (lovely creamy yellow flowers) is very happy!
When I mow, I leave the borders alone. Here we can see buttercups creating a line around the patio. Insects visit them while I’m sat on my bench. Note also the birds’ water nearby. Birds love to bathe and drink there.
Sometimes, if flowers form, I leave small meadow patches in the lawn. I just mow around them. They often fill with daisies. Once all the flowers die off I cut them down, which you can see in the background.
Another edge-of-lawn area where any plants which want to, can grow. Since they are at the edges, they don’t get in the way.
Another example of the edge areas left more to nature.
I think Dolly approves
One final thing. I do mow the lawn but I don’t have an electric mower. It’s a manual push one. A joy to use as it whicker-wicks away with a satisfying sound, no cables to faff about with. I just leave the grass cuttings to go back into the ground rather than taking the nutrients away.
This is the model I have, but there are a huge number of non-electric options
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