Let a Corner go Wild
Pledge 1 - Let a Corner go Wild
Embrace the ‘messiness’
Many of us have learnt to view wildness in our gardens as ‘messy” or evidence of a “lazy gardener. Unfortunately, there is very little life in a “neat garden” with carpet of manicured lawn.
Let’s get back to the magic of childhood and embrace the messiness of a corner “Where the Wild Things Are”!
Choose a minimum of 2 of the elements below to as part of your pledge
Embrace the ‘messiness’
Many of us have learnt to view wildness in our gardens as ‘messy” or evidence of a “lazy gardener. Unfortunately, there is very little life in a “neat garden” with carpet of manicured lawn.
Let’s get back to the magic of childhood and embrace the messiness of a corner “Where the Wild Things Are”!
Choose a minimum of 2 of the elements below to as part of your pledge
Let your grass grow!
“In any garden, big or small, we’d now advise keeping two lengths of grass. Leave some patches completely un-mown to let taller flowers come into bloom. For the rest of the lawn, you can keep the grass shorter by mowing once every month to a height of 1 or 2 inches. You’ll cut off some flowers when you do mow, but they’ll come back quickly; you can even rotate patches around your garden so there are always some areas in flower. For flowers, bees and butterflies there is one lawn ‘haircut’ that really suits: the Mohican. Most should be given a monthly cut to boost short sward plants but there should also ideally be an area set aside for longer grass where floral diversity abounds.”
Dr Trevor Dines, Botanical Specialist from Plantlife
With your shorter grass you could get creative - mow some interesting shapes, curving paths, or even a maze!
With your shorter grass you could get creative - mow some interesting shapes, curving paths, or even a maze!
Leave dandelion and nettle patches and even some brambles!
- Can you spare a corner to let some weeds grow such as nettles and brambles and dandelions? Nettles and brambles will provide vital food for the caterpillars of many butterflies such as red admiral and tortoiseshell. A a patch of dandelions will provide a great source of nectar for those early bumblebees. You will still need to do some gentle gardening, otherwise nettles and brambles would take over, allow some to develop, but not to overtake the other flowers.
Deadwood habitat piles and standing deadwood
- Dead wood is a fantastic garden habitat, providing food and shelter for a wealth of wildlife providing a vital refuge for many mini-beasts such as beetles and spiders. This in turn will attract frogs, newts, hedgehogs and mice. Birds such as thrushes and blackbirds will also be attracted by the food on offer. Create log piles or wood stacks but do not use treated wood. A quite shady spot that stays damp and cool is best.
How to make a log shelter Devon Wildlife Trust - If you have a large garden or piece of land, try to leave some dead trees and shrubs standing, so long as they are not posing a danger, to decompose naturally. Standing deadwood supports a huge amount of life. The importance of decaying wood from the RSPB
- Even if you just have a balcony or terrace, you can still provide some deadwood see Providing dead wood on balconies and terraces
Be Lazy - Cut back on cutting back !
Great for nature and a time saver too !
Great for nature and a time saver too !
- Make sure you leave plenty of bushes, shrubs and tree cover for birds to shelter and feed in especially during bird nesting season, between March and August. Trim hedges no more than once a year, preferably in winter and leave some leaf litter to attract hibernating hedgehogs and toads, birds, small mammals and insects.
- Don't rush to "dead head" just leave your flowers to go to seed. Birds such as goldfinches will tuck into the seeds and mini-beasts may find shelter in the old dry stems. The dry seed-heads can provide texture and interest during the winter months.
- The RSPB are urging people to put down the secateurs and let their gardens grow. Cut back on Cutting back
Other Elements to consider
Add a mini pond.
Talk to your neighbors create corridors of wildlife consider making a gap hedgehog in your fence for creatures such as hedgehogs and toads
When thinking about boundaries why not consider creating a more permeable boundary hedges are more wildlife friendly than fences. Consider planting a native hedge.
Have you come up with your own idea for rewilding your corner? - Please share your ideas with us.
Add a mini pond.
Talk to your neighbors create corridors of wildlife consider making a gap hedgehog in your fence for creatures such as hedgehogs and toads
When thinking about boundaries why not consider creating a more permeable boundary hedges are more wildlife friendly than fences. Consider planting a native hedge.
Have you come up with your own idea for rewilding your corner? - Please share your ideas with us.