I’m the generalist gardening friend BugFriendlyGardener talked about in his original post and have been doing it for about 8 years now, and would ask the question whether gardening as we like it is on the way out ?
Over that time I have noticed a couple of trends –
A decline in interest in gardening particularly amongst younger people (I’m 53, so most people are younger than me !)
People wanting their garden to look ‘posh like you see in up market estate agent photos.
People are much busier now, they work longer days and demands put on them are much greater, so when they get home they want a glass of wine and to watch their huge wide screen TV from a comfy sofa. They don’t want any of that flaffing about in the garden cutting grass or weeding (heaven forbid).
So, more possibilities of work for the likes of us maybe ? Except,
The gardening they want is all stripes on the lawn, rounded Photinia Red Robin and a car park where their front garden used to be. The thought of compost bins cluttering the place up or plants that actually look untidy after they flower doesn’t fit in with their world view. And log piles ? – don’t even go there !
I watch and listen to gardening programs which often highlight people making interesting gardens for themselves, but echoing the original point – these sort of people seem to be very thin on the ground around here.
I think there may be more possibilities of doing gardening for people, but feel it will be more of the uninteresting stuff as ‘outside cleaners’ as my friend calls them. Being able to influence them into wildlife friendly gardening will be a hard nut to crack.
That's the core of the issue. There are various 'sort of people'. And wildlife gardening is not for everyone.
There are some people who are anxious about what other people think; they want approval; they want to conform. These people want a 'tidy garden'.
And there are others who think for themselves, and who are independent-minded and creative. These are the people who will have an empathy for wildlife.
There are 8 types of personality. People are born one way or another, and cannot be changed. You can't turn a stuffed shirt into a wildlife gardener.
On the slightly separate issue of whether wildlife gardening is just a fashion. The movement towards wildlife gardening has been driven by the increasing industrialisation of the countryside. Many people have realised that they can do something about this, by letting nature into their own gardens. That trend is not going to change. This is not a fashion.
An example of a fashion is the shaved lawn. The shaved lawn is an English invention. The idea has been copied in some other countries, where it doesn't work. Lawns need rain. Lawns are local and parochial. If we were to have a series of blazing Summers and hosepipe bans, gardeners here would change their minds about lawns.
Hi Steve Johnson, I live in Reigate...........I hope you are my neighbour, then you would understand what I mean.Oh , bye the way, rotary dryers are out too! But fear not, the wildlife are enjoying my wildlife garden. Bless.
Gary, I'm vaguely insulted by the implication that I just chuck some nuts outside and hope for the best!
I have taken this garden from a featureless lawn over the last three years into as much of a bee haven as I can manage. There are bird and bug boxes and a section that I leave to its own devices. Next year I have a section set aside for wildflowers. Once I get the last bit sorted then I'll get compost bins in and a water butt.
I have started guerilla gardening. I live on a cul-de-sac that has supported housing for vulnerable people attached and we have large swathes of grass outside tended [at our expense] by a gardening team. By the side of my house outside of my fence - I am the last of the terrace - I have 4 large evergreen oaks but its a huge area and I put all my logs out there and usually cover it with the leaves I get. I have also started to throw seeds on the bank that does get some sun - did some this morning - and am hoping to colonise it with wildflower seeds and some california poppies. I am even thinking of taking my guerilla gardening to some verges around here. Perhaps I should invest in a balaclava.
figrat - I was trying not to advertise! OK, Green Thumb.
jatnik - I think you misunderstood me; I'm a professional gardener, and I have no choice but to give the customer what he wants if he insists. As I said he's got every right to stripey lawns and gravel if he owns the house and pays his dues...and my bills.
hiya..just seen your original email from last year re Chris Baines 'Bluetits and Bumblebees'' and I totally agree. We saw this programme shortly after we were married and have adopted that approach every since. The joy it has given us and all our visitors over the years has been enormous and we always encourage others to do the same. Keep up the good work... by the way if you know where I can get a copy of the programme please let me know ..I managed to 'tape' over it by mistake !! cheers John
I too am in my fifties and am the only person on our street (and probably the estate) who gardens for wildlife. I don't feel it's too difficult as all of the plants are perennials which either self seed or I collect the seed and plant them in pots. The lawns get smaller as the borders get wider and most of the small back garden is now a pond. At work, I can't believe that the people in their 20s just don't understand why we need any insects, let alone bees. Why would I want frogs in the garden? Why do I spend hours pond watching? Why feed the birds or have a bee house? Perhaps primary schools ought to reintroduce nature walks and nature tables. Then again, my kids are in their 20s and think the pond is the best thing have ever done and they too will have one if they can ever afford a house with a garden.
I did have a chat with a local garden fencer about the lack of access his concrete fence bases allow for hedgehogs and frogs etc. He was laughing, because a man had asked him to leave a gap for hedgehogs and he (the fencer) thought it was a joke!! But a lot of gardens are practically hermetically sealed these days.
Posts
I’m the generalist gardening friend BugFriendlyGardener talked about in his original post and have been doing it for about 8 years now, and would ask the question whether gardening as we like it is on the way out ?
Over that time I have noticed a couple of trends –
People are much busier now, they work longer days and demands put on them are much greater, so when they get home they want a glass of wine and to watch their huge wide screen TV from a comfy sofa. They don’t want any of that flaffing about in the garden cutting grass or weeding (heaven forbid).
So, more possibilities of work for the likes of us maybe ? Except,
The gardening they want is all stripes on the lawn, rounded Photinia Red Robin and a car park where their front garden used to be. The thought of compost bins cluttering the place up or plants that actually look untidy after they flower doesn’t fit in with their world view. And log piles ? – don’t even go there !
I watch and listen to gardening programs which often highlight people making interesting gardens for themselves, but echoing the original point – these sort of people seem to be very thin on the ground around here.
I think there may be more possibilities of doing gardening for people, but feel it will be more of the uninteresting stuff as ‘outside cleaners’ as my friend calls them. Being able to influence them into wildlife friendly gardening will be a hard nut to crack.
Wildlife gardening is not about putting out a few peanuts. It about long grass and log piles, and a person's entire approach to their garden.
That's the core of the issue. There are various 'sort of people'. And wildlife gardening is not for everyone.
There are some people who are anxious about what other people think; they want approval; they want to conform. These people want a 'tidy garden'.
And there are others who think for themselves, and who are independent-minded and creative. These are the people who will have an empathy for wildlife.
There are 8 types of personality. People are born one way or another, and cannot be changed. You can't turn a stuffed shirt into a wildlife gardener.
On the slightly separate issue of whether wildlife gardening is just a fashion. The movement towards wildlife gardening has been driven by the increasing industrialisation of the countryside. Many people have realised that they can do something about this, by letting nature into their own gardens. That trend is not going to change. This is not a fashion.
An example of a fashion is the shaved lawn. The shaved lawn is an English invention. The idea has been copied in some other countries, where it doesn't work. Lawns need rain. Lawns are local and parochial. If we were to have a series of blazing Summers and hosepipe bans, gardeners here would change their minds about lawns.
Hi Steve Johnson, I live in Reigate...........I hope you are my neighbour, then you would understand what I mean.Oh , bye the way, rotary dryers are out too! But fear not, the wildlife are enjoying my wildlife garden. Bless.
I have taken this garden from a featureless lawn over the last three years into as much of a bee haven as I can manage. There are bird and bug boxes and a section that I leave to its own devices. Next year I have a section set aside for wildflowers. Once I get the last bit sorted then I'll get compost bins in and a water butt.
I have started guerilla gardening. I live on a cul-de-sac that has supported housing for vulnerable people attached and we have large swathes of grass outside tended [at our expense] by a gardening team. By the side of my house outside of my fence - I am the last of the terrace - I have 4 large evergreen oaks but its a huge area and I put all my logs out there and usually cover it with the leaves I get. I have also started to throw seeds on the bank that does get some sun - did some this morning - and am hoping to colonise it with wildflower seeds and some california poppies. I am even thinking of taking my guerilla gardening to some verges around here. Perhaps I should invest in a balaclava.
I'll knit you one
Well done you!!
Oooh look
http://www.guerrillagardening.org/
Might need more wool lol
figrat - I was trying not to advertise! OK, Green Thumb.
jatnik - I think you misunderstood me; I'm a professional gardener, and I have no choice but to give the customer what he wants if he insists. As I said he's got every right to stripey lawns and gravel if he owns the house and pays his dues...and my bills.
Joe
hiya..just seen your original email from last year re Chris Baines 'Bluetits and Bumblebees'' and I totally agree. We saw this programme shortly after we were married and have adopted that approach every since. The joy it has given us and all our visitors over the years has been enormous and we always encourage others to do the same. Keep up the good work... by the way if you know where I can get a copy of the programme please let me know ..I managed to 'tape' over it by mistake !!
cheers John
I did have a chat with a local garden fencer about the lack of access his concrete fence bases allow for hedgehogs and frogs etc. He was laughing, because a man had asked him to leave a gap for hedgehogs and he (the fencer) thought it was a joke!! But a lot of gardens are practically hermetically sealed these days.