your garden: it's importance to wildlife

Your Garden: Its Importance to Wildlife

Peter OrchardNature of Dorset

These are personal views and do not necessarily represent the views of particular organisation.

Your Garden: Its Importance to Wildlife

WHY you should garden for wildlife not HOW!

Your Garden: it’s importance to wildlife

1. Make you aware of a serious problem– Falling insect populations affecting pollination of

food crops

2. To introduce you to the perceived solution– Biodiversity networks

3. Show you how your garden can be part of that solution– Provide refuelling and recovery points for our

nature

Your Garden: it’s importance to wildlife

1. Make you aware of a serious problem– Falling insect populations affecting pollination of

food crops

2. To introduce you to the perceived solution– Biodiversity networks

3. Show you how your garden can be part of that solution– Provide refuelling and recovery points for our

nature

Pre-WW2 Countryside

1940’s …”Dig for Victory”

1950’s … Won’t get caught again!

• More intensive farming• Hedges out = bigger fields• Chemical controls• New crops (Winter wheat/Rape seed)• Conifer plantations

1960’s … You’ve never had it so good!

• New houses

• More jobs

• New roads

• Materials

The response to habitat loss?

• Nature Reserves• Designation (SSSI)• Legal Protection

The problem with that solution!

• Nature reserves give the impression all is well in the natural world: look how many there are!

The problem with that solution!

The problem with that solution!

• Nature reserves give the impression all is well in the natural world: look how many there are!

• Nature reserves have led to a belief that wildlife is found on reserves and has no place in our daily lives – separation from our roots

The problem with that solution!

• Nature reserves give the impression all is well in the natural world: look how many there are!

• Nature reserves have led to a belief that wildlife is found on reserves and has no place in our daily lives – separation from our roots

• Isolated communities, weakening gene pools, vulnerability to disease and extreme conditions, localised and dwindling populations

The problem with that solution!

• Nature reserves give the impression all is well in the natural world: look how many there are!

• Nature reserves have led to a belief that wildlife is found on reserves and has no place in our daily lives – separation from our roots

• Isolated communities, weakening gene pools, vulnerability to disease and extreme conditions, localised and dwindling populations

• Nature reserves are actually part of the problem and need to be part of the solution

A lot is being done …

• Habitat restoration• Hedge replacement• Conservation projects

But we need to do more!

Your Garden: it’s importance to wildlife

1. Make you aware of a serious problem– Falling insect populations affecting pollination of

food crops

2. To introduce you to the perceived solution– Biodiversity networks

3. Show you how your garden can be part of that solution– Provide refuelling and recovery points for our

nature

The revised solution!

• We need areas for food production and wheat crops are obviously vital

• This demands control to produce quality and quantity

• But we also need our wildlife to pollinate our non-cereal crops

• So we need to allow wildlife to thrive and to do its work

• We can do this by creating biodiversity networks

What is a biodiversity network?

• It means joining up nature reserves providing corridors for species to spread out and create new, or strengthen existing, colonies

• It means improving hedgerows, creating field ‘headlands’ and road verges to allow passage

• It means creating refuelling and restoration points along the way in our communities –churchyards, village greens, public places and GARDENS!

Putting this in a human context …

Putting this in a human context …

Wareham

Swanage

Putting this in a human context …

Wareham

Swanage

Road or corridor

Putting this in a human context …

Wareham

Swanage

Road or corridor Refuel

Rest/shelter

Putting this in a human context …

Wareham

Swanage

Road or corridor Refuel

Rest/shelter

New Communities

So in a wildlife context … corridors

• Margins

• Set-a-side

• Verges

• Hedgerows

So in a wildlife context … stations

• Churchyards

• Greens/ponds

• ‘Waste’ places

• And ??????

Your GARDENS!

Your Garden: it’s importance to wildlife

1. Make you aware of a serious problem– Falling insect populations affecting pollination of

food crops

2. To introduce you to the perceived solution– Biodiversity networks

3. Show you how your garden can be part of that solution– Provide refuelling and recovery points for our

nature

What is a garden? Human view

A garden is an area of land around your house over which you exert total control:

• You decide what plants grow there• You decide which creatures live there• You decide how to spend your time there

What is a garden? Nature’s view

A garden is a small part of a much larger area of habitat which is:

• Potentially a place to find invaluable food supplies• Potentially a place to find shelter • Potentially a place to successfully raise ones young

A Garden is part of a macro-habitat:

A Garden is part of a macro-habitat:

Gardens

A Garden is part of a macro-habitat:

Gardens

Water Meadow

A Garden is part of a macro-habitat:

Gardens

Water Meadow

Quarry/landfill

A Garden is part of a macro-habitat:

Gardens

Water Meadow

Quarry/landfill

Conifer woods

A Garden is part of a macro-habitat:

Gardens

Water Meadow

Quarry/landfill

Conifer woods

Farmland

A Garden is part of a macro-habitat:

Gardens

Water Meadow

Quarry/landfill

Conifer woods

Reed bed

Farmland

A Garden is part of a macro-habitat:

Gardens

Water Meadow

Quarry/landfill

Conifer woods

Reed bed

Farmland

Heath

A Garden is part of a macro-habitat:

Gardens

Water Meadow

Quarry/landfill

Conifer woods

Reed bed

Farmland

Heath

Marsh

It contains many micro-habitats:

Will vary between the seasons – this is winter

It contains many micro-habitats:

Feeding station

It contains many micro-habitats:

Water Bowl

Feeding station

It contains many micro-habitats:

Hedge

Water Bowl

Feeding station

It contains many micro-habitats:

Small tree

Hedge

Water Bowl

Feeding station

It contains many micro-habitats:

Fence panels

Small tree

Hedge

Water Bowl

Feeding station

It contains many micro-habitats:

Fence panels

Small tree

Hedge

Water Bowl

Feeding station

Open grass

It contains many micro-habitats:

Fence panels

Small tree

Hedge

Water Bowl

Feeding station

Bare earth

Open grass

It contains many micro-habitats:

Fence panels

Small tree

Hedge

Water Bowl

Feeding station

Shrub

Bare earth

Open grass

It contains many micro-habitats:

Fence panels

Small tree

Hedge

Water Bowl

Feeding station

Flower bed

Shrub

Bare earth

Open grass

It contains many micro-habitats:

Fence panels

Small tree

Hedge

Water Bowl

Feeding station

Flower bed

Shrub

Bare earth

Open grass

Building

Tea Break!

Before the break …

• We looked at how things have changed in the last 60 years and the increased pressures on our wildlife

• We considered how nature reserves in isolation have not really helped protect our wildlife and enable it to flourish

• We introduced the concept of ‘biodiversity networks’ and how gardens were integral to this idea

The Human and Wildlife Balance

• Human beings and wildlife potentially have different requirements from a garden!

• Human beings see wildlife as a guest in their gardens, wildlife does not see it that way!

• Human beings are happy to have unnatural plants in their gardens but not natural ones!

• Human beings think they can improve on nature and control nature

Attitudes to invertebrates!

• Insects get bad press:

– Ugly Bugs, creepie crawlies, mini-beasts

– 72% of gardeners think insects are not important!

– 94% knew bees made honey but …

– 68% did not know chocolate is dependent on a single species of tiny midge

– 41% hate wasps, 29% hate midges and mosquitoes!

• So let’s try and love insects! Well, appreciate them at least!

Insects are essential not optional!

• to pollinate our food crops • to facilitate waste disposal

and composing• to naturally control other ‘pests’• to be food for animals we do like

- birds!

80% of the worlds food is insect pollinated!

OK! Some invertebrates are ‘pests’

• Some bite and sting!• Some spread disease!• Some eat your prized lilies!• Some eat anything!• Some are annoying!• Some are ugly!

Most are beautiful, harmless and useful

The Holly Blue Butterfly

The Holly Blue Butterfly

The Brimstone Butterfly

The Holly Blue Butterfly

The Elephant Hawk-moth

The Elephant Hawk-moth

The Buff-tip Moth

The Buff-tip Moth

The White Ermine Moth

The White Ermine Moth

The Azure Damselfly

The Azure Damselfly

The Blue-tailed Damselfly

The Blue-tailed Damselfly

The Broad-bodied Chaser

The Broad-bodied Chaser

The Common Darter

The Common Darter

The Honey Bee

The Honey Bee

The Leaf-cutter Bee

The Leaf-cutter Bee

The Cuckoo Bee

The Cuckoo Bee

The Buff-tailed Bumble-bee

The Buff-tailed Bumble-bee

The Greenbottle

The Greenbottle

The Flesh Fly

The Flesh Fly

The Noon Day Fly

The Noon Day Fly

A Hoverfly

A Hoverfly

The Marmalade Hoverfly

The Marmalade Hoverfly

The Drone Fly (Hoverfly)

The Drone Fly (Hoverfly)

The Seven-spot Ladybird

The7-spot Ladybird

The Rose Chafer

The Rose Chafer

The Soldier Beetle

The Soldier Beetle

The Hawthorn Shield-bug

The Hawthorn Shieldbug

The Froghopper (Cuckoo-spit)

The Frog Hopper (Cuckoo Spit)

The Pond Skater

The Frog Hopper (Cuckoo Spit)

The Common Cross Spider

The Common Cross Spider

And it is not just about insects!

• Mammals• Reptiles• Amphibians

Can all benefit from gardens

And, of course, birds!

• Residents• Itinerants• Migrants

Can all benefit from gardens

So, why garden for wildlife?

• It is part of an important wider strategy to create Biodiversity Networks:

– It is not about turning the clock back

– It is not about criticism or casting blame

– It is about merging human needs with natures needs

– It is about reconnection with the natural world

– And we need nature as part of a balanced environment

So, what can you do?

• Take the problem on board – it is real!

• Look at your garden as part of a bigger picture

• Change the way you garden and what you grow a little

• Look for the new RHS ‘bee’ logo

• Be more tolerant of insects; find out the truth!

• Take your grand-children in to your garden and teach them about insects

• Encourage each other and encourage others

How can we change our world?

One garden at a time(starting with yours!)

Hopefully you want to know how!

• Provide food:– Water supply, food supplements, nectar sources,

larvae food plants, etc

• Provide shelter– Cover for roosting, nesting places, nesting boxes,

varied micro-habitats, compost

• Provide care!– No chemicals, deter cats, avoid threats and

encourage opportunities

Hopefully you want to know how!

• Lots of books and websites will give you information on good practice

• Get Joy Wallis of the Dorset Wildlife Trust to come and talk to you

• Become a ‘Wildlife Friendly Garden’

• Compare ideas, encourageeach other, enthuse others!

• ther

A wildlife garden does not have to be a wild garden!

http://www.dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/wildlife-gardening.html

www.natureofdorset.co.uk