Go wild about gardens
Do gardeners believe they have the space to accommodate wildlife? What do people know about the wildlife in their local area? Which wildlife is the most important to gardeners? The RHS and The Wildlife Trusts* (TWT), another charity, have launched a major new project which aims to answer these questions, reveal gardeners’ attitudes to gardening for wildlife and, for the first time, generate a virtual conversation on a national and local level to share stories, successes and tips.
Wild About Gardens aims to bring the worlds of gardening and nature conservation closer together, to increase understanding of the significance of local wildlife character, celebrate what gardeners are already doing to support wildlife, and build on existing research into the wildlife potential of domestic gardens.
A postcard survey will be carried out over spring and summer with the results announced in the autumn. You can take part by picking up a postcard at any RHS garden, calling your local Wildlife Trust or downloading the card from the project website, www.wildaboutgardens.org. The website also acts as a forum for people to tell their garden stories and share their own experiences of local wildlife through online discussion boards.
With natural habitats such as wildflower meadows and ancient woodlands disappearing at an alarming rate, gardens are quickly becoming important havens for a wide range of birds, mammals, amphibians and invertebrates. There are an estimated 15 million gardens in the UK covering around 270,000 hectares, an area greater than all of the designated National Nature Reserves in the UK. Through the project, the two charities hope people will share their own stories at a local community level, and across the UK, in turn inspiring more people to take action to make their own gardens and green spaces havens for wildlife.
Several well-known faces have lent their support to the project by sharing their own experiences of gardening for wildlife including Kim Wilde, Richard Briers, Jessica Stevenson, Bill Oddie, Antony Worrall Thompson, Roger Lloyd-Pack, Raymond Blanc, Chris Beardshaw and David Bellamy.
Celebrity quotes and pictures are available on www.wildaboutgardens.org.
Stephanie Hilborne, Chief Executive of The Wildlife Trusts, says, “Creating a home for wildlife in your own garden, however small the space, is good for nature and immensely rewarding. By working with the RHS we hope to encourage more gardeners to get involved with wildlife and to share their experiences. All garden owners have the opportunity to make a difference and Wild About Gardens aims to give everyone the advice and inspiration they need to help maximise the potential of their garden nature reserves.”
A number of events related to wildlife gardening, from bug hunts to wildflower talks, will be happening at RHS gardens and local Wildlife Trusts across the UK throughout spring and summer.
* The Wildlife Trusts is a partnership of 47 Wildlife Trusts across the UK, plus the Isle of Man and Alderney. Its vision is ‘an environment richer in wildlife for everyone’ and it is the largest UK charity dedicated exclusively to conserving all our habitats and species, with a membership of more than 530,000 people including 62,000 junior members. It campaigns for the protection of wildlife and invests in the future by helping people of all ages to gain a greater appreciation and understanding of wildlife. Collectively, it also manages more than 2,500 nature reserves spanning over 80,000 hectares.
For further information about The Wildlife Trusts visit www.wildlifetrusts.org
We have also launched the RHS Biodiversity Appeal to help with our work on this project.
For full details click here