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Heaven or Hell for Wildlife

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Gardens: Heaven or Hell for Wildlife?

conference proceedings

Bumble bee on Verbena bonariensis Gardens: Heaven or Hell for Wildlife? conference hosted by The Royal Horticultural Society, in association with the Wildlife Trusts and the RSPB, raises the awareness of the important role gardeners can play in creating a better environment for wildlife.

Statistics suggest gardeners could be a formidable force for putting biodiversity on the public agenda with three quarters of the UK's adult population has access to a garden, and more than half of those say they get a great deal of pleasure from gardening.

The extent to which this nation of gardeners is helping or hindering biodiversity, and what more they could do, are key topics for debate at the conference which draws together the latest science, research and opinion leaders from a wide range of interest groups.

Schedule
Welcome Sir Richard Carew Pole, RHS President Comma on Buddleja

Introduction John MacLeod, RHS Professor of Horticulture

Keynote - Who cares? Rt. Hon. John Gummer MP

Evidence for significance of biodiversity and gardens Professor Kevin Gaston and Dr Ken Thompson, University of Sheffield

Gardens: heaven or hell for birds
Dr Andy Evans, Head of Terrestrial Research, RSPB

The gardens of Plas Tan y Bwlch
Ifer Gwyn, Project Leader, Snowdonia Wildlife Gardening Project

Biodiversity in practice
Professor Chris Baines, Author and broadcaster

Engagement and encouragement
Maggie McDonald, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust Green Gardening Project Officer Hybrid southern marsh orchid

Parks and biodiversity Karen Sims-Neighbour, Urban Parks Forum

Wildlife and Rowallane Garden - forging the link Mike Snowdon, retired Head gardener, Rowallane Garden, Northern Ireland

RHS Gardens and biodiversity Matthew Wilson, Curator, RHS Garden Hyde Hall, Essex

Q&A