Homes & Gardens
Creating the ‘right’ balance
A little thought and planning – plus a fair amount of effort – can turn virtually any garden, regardless of size, into a wildlife haven. Before non-gardeners run away with the wrong idea, it does not just mean sitting in a deckchair and allowing nature to take over completely. Most gardens have to fulfil several functions to
compete with family interest. A safe area where the children can play? A warm sheltered spot where family and friends can lunch or dine al fresco? And, of course, more and more people want to grow their own five-a-day, keep chickens, and are generally becoming increasingly self- sufficient. Lo and behold, it seems as though the entire garden is used up and there is no space left to encourage wildlife. Not so. Even a couple of pots – or a window box – can support a surprising number of species. The dining-out area can be sheltered from winds and strong sun with a multiplicity of native climbers that, later in the year, could be left a little rampant to provide food and shelter for wildlife during the winter. A lot of gardens are walled or fenced all round, which means there is no way for small mammals to enter in the first place. It is easy to remedy but important to remember to have at least two entrances that will also provide escape routes in the case of attacks from predators. Of course, it is essential to consider neighbours and their attitude to their garden in general – and wildlife in particular – but it can be done.
For example, in some urban areas that almost amount to concrete jungles, communities have banded together to create ‘wildlife corridors’ with surprisingly successful results. Imagine what can be achieved in ‘greener’ locations. Gardeners’ perceptions of wildlife are often
governed by what we ‘like’. Thus, birds are generally ‘in’ – and slugs and aphids ‘out’. But are we failing to see the bigger picture? Ecosystems are not simple; in fact, they are amazingly complex. During the last century scientists developed a wide range of chemicals to control pests and diseases and, in doing so, upset (in some cases totally destroyed) the balance that is essential for a functioning ecosystem. It is quite possible to encourage biodiversity aligned to having a stunning garden. ‘Balance’ is all!
36 Mid Kent Living
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