your garden: it's importance to wildlife
TRANSCRIPT
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