Keen garden bloggers have been chatting for the past few weeks about the strangely mild autumn we have had so far. Although it’s nice to be able to get outside without coats there has been an underlying current of concern. What effect will these high temperatures have on our garden plants and the creatures who depend on them for food and habitat?
A press release by the RHS indicates that we are right to be worried about environmental changes affecting our planet. We all know that populations of plants and animals are in decline to such an extent that some are in danger of becoming extinct.
Professor Stephen Blackmore (The Queens Botanist in Scotland) says that we can’t wait any longer. Governments around the world need to tackle this issue but legislation takes time. We need to do something about it now. This is where gardeners come in.
He says that gardeners have a huge role to play in making some simple changes to grow the right plants and improve conditions in our gardens and neighbourhoods so that wildlife can find food and a safe place to live.
These are some of his suggestions:
- Actively choosing plants that will support the widest diversity of other species, including pollinators and other garden wildlife
- Making urban landscapes much greener by planting garden and street trees to absorb pollutants, reduce excess temperatures and improve the quality of the built environment
- Not paving over front gardens, instead ensuring that there is an area of green as well as a parking space
- Gaining health benefits for themselves and their families through gardening
- Joining forces with and support their local parks, gardens and gardening societies, if they don’t have a garden of their own.
If you are just thinking about it then now is the time to act before it’s too late.
All of the suggestions above are things we should all be doing if we want to protect our local environment and preserve wildlife.
FOR GROUPS: The quickest and easiest thing you can do to help is to sow wildflower seeds. The GROW WILD scheme is brilliant for community groups and schools. Apply to them now for wildflower seeds for your group. They will deliver them to you in spring.
FOR INDIVIDUALS: If you are a family, a couple or an individual with your own garden, balcony or allotment and you would like to make a difference then I would like to help you get started. Apply for your FREE SEEDS here. They will be delivered to you in spring.
It’s so easy to grow beautiful plants in your garden that have nectar and pollen for bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects.
If you want to get cracking with something straight away you could build a bug house or bee box or just leave a pile of twigs and leaves under a hedge for a hedgehog to spend the winter in.
I know that this is a little different to my usual Friday Looking Good post but I feel so strongly about this that I just had to get it down in black and white! Thanks for reading, liking and commenting and most of all thanks for joining in! Gillian 🙂