If you are interested in bees and looking at this site, you probably know EXACTLY why you have a garden, and I am preaching to the converted..........however, looking around, an awful lot of people don't seem to be taken with the idea, so this is to try and convince those people.
Well, for a start, a garden can be attractive and make you glad to walk through your gate........it has been proved that in inner city areas, where green spaces and planting have been introduced , vandalism has gone down. Here is an example.....this little front garden was very depressing and sad, but now looks loved and colourful......
Well, for a start, a garden can be attractive and make you glad to walk through your gate........it has been proved that in inner city areas, where green spaces and planting have been introduced , vandalism has gone down. Here is an example.....this little front garden was very depressing and sad, but now looks loved and colourful......
Your garden can provide you with so much........ a place to observe nature, grow food, relax with friends or quietly on your own... somewhere you can express your creativity, have a barbeque, play with your dog, hang the washing, practise yoga, lie on your back and look at the stars, camp on warm nights (if you have the space), potter about in the shed (if you have room for one), keep chickens and tortoises......... you get the picture?
It has now been scientifically proven, that soil and sunlight have beneficial chemical impacts on our immune systems and brains, and it is being offered as an aid to recovery for people with depression and PTSD.
Of course, I would encourage you to grow LOADS of diverse flowers, shrubs and trees to support our struggling bee populations, making sure not to use pesticides. As gardens get smaller, and more land is used for housing and agro farming, it is even more important that these spaces are utilised well, creating harmonious little pockets for plants , pollinators and people.
I asked some people I have made gardens for, the question, what does your garden mean to you?
Here are some of their answers............
I have come to it late, but in my retirement I want to learn how to grow things, and I love seeing new plants come out as the year progresses. (Wilma)
It's lovely to have my breakfast and my tea in the garden in the sunshine..... I like having flowers to pick for the house, watching the grasses waving at me from the window and my friends commenting on what a pretty garden I have. (Mrs Elliot)
It makes me smile, when I open the curtains in the morning, and see....pow... a shot of orange colour from the tulips (Tom Clark)
My garden means peace...an escape and a sanctuary for my son with special needs. Nice place to entertain (Denise Walker)
We can have the paddling pool out, and our puppy can dig holes!!!!!
(K ***** Aged 8)
My first thought is HARD WORK.......would much prefer to pay someone else to do it, but can't imagine not having a garden. I like having herbs in the garden to use. It's a place to socialise and relax. It's calming and I like seeing the seasons change and the wildlife that visit. (Kyra)
I love having a garden, but don't know what I am doing. I feel Mother Nature does a better job than I can, and feel overwhelmed with "doing" the garden, so having someone who can give me advise is invaluable. I want my garden to look beautiful and be a good home for birds and insects (Mel Downing)
The RHS are running a campaign called Greening Grey Britain, to encourage people to green up their front gardens and streets......front gardens are being sacrificed at an alarming rate, to be turned into car parks........ if the surfaces used are not porous (like concrete), this is contributing to flash flooding, as there is no where for the rain water to go....whereas plants act like sponges, and gravel filters water.........
There are so many small things you can do, that will make a positive difference. Planting one small tree, could provide a habitat for birds and insects, provide privacy from being overlooked, soak up pollution and act as drainage........
If you have a small space or acres, go make a garden... fill it with pollen and nectar rich plants.... a pond for wildlife......well placed seating for you to enjoy your garden from , an orchard, a swing, a rill, a shabby chic shed, a veg patch, artwork, trees, blankets for babies to lie on, a lion house....agh.... I am getting carried away.........
It has now been scientifically proven, that soil and sunlight have beneficial chemical impacts on our immune systems and brains, and it is being offered as an aid to recovery for people with depression and PTSD.
Of course, I would encourage you to grow LOADS of diverse flowers, shrubs and trees to support our struggling bee populations, making sure not to use pesticides. As gardens get smaller, and more land is used for housing and agro farming, it is even more important that these spaces are utilised well, creating harmonious little pockets for plants , pollinators and people.
I asked some people I have made gardens for, the question, what does your garden mean to you?
Here are some of their answers............
I have come to it late, but in my retirement I want to learn how to grow things, and I love seeing new plants come out as the year progresses. (Wilma)
It's lovely to have my breakfast and my tea in the garden in the sunshine..... I like having flowers to pick for the house, watching the grasses waving at me from the window and my friends commenting on what a pretty garden I have. (Mrs Elliot)
It makes me smile, when I open the curtains in the morning, and see....pow... a shot of orange colour from the tulips (Tom Clark)
My garden means peace...an escape and a sanctuary for my son with special needs. Nice place to entertain (Denise Walker)
We can have the paddling pool out, and our puppy can dig holes!!!!!
(K ***** Aged 8)
My first thought is HARD WORK.......would much prefer to pay someone else to do it, but can't imagine not having a garden. I like having herbs in the garden to use. It's a place to socialise and relax. It's calming and I like seeing the seasons change and the wildlife that visit. (Kyra)
I love having a garden, but don't know what I am doing. I feel Mother Nature does a better job than I can, and feel overwhelmed with "doing" the garden, so having someone who can give me advise is invaluable. I want my garden to look beautiful and be a good home for birds and insects (Mel Downing)
The RHS are running a campaign called Greening Grey Britain, to encourage people to green up their front gardens and streets......front gardens are being sacrificed at an alarming rate, to be turned into car parks........ if the surfaces used are not porous (like concrete), this is contributing to flash flooding, as there is no where for the rain water to go....whereas plants act like sponges, and gravel filters water.........
There are so many small things you can do, that will make a positive difference. Planting one small tree, could provide a habitat for birds and insects, provide privacy from being overlooked, soak up pollution and act as drainage........
If you have a small space or acres, go make a garden... fill it with pollen and nectar rich plants.... a pond for wildlife......well placed seating for you to enjoy your garden from , an orchard, a swing, a rill, a shabby chic shed, a veg patch, artwork, trees, blankets for babies to lie on, a lion house....agh.... I am getting carried away.........
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