A small wildlife garden - how it works and is it easy?
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Published 2022-06-25
This garden is one of 30 gardens open for Faversham Open Gardens & Garden Market Day tomorrow (26th June 10am-5pm) in Faversham, Kent. Tickets are £6 for £10 for 2, available from the Market Place, Faversham ME14 7AF
00:00 Welcome
00:57 Why Anne decided on a wildlife garden
01:21 Start a wildlife garden by creating pond - water is essential to wildlife
01:48 Fill the pond with rainwater by connecting the guttering and downpipe from the roof to the pond
02:15 You can create an overflow 'bog garden area' for rainy times
02:58 Next steps after digging the pond
03:46 Why decking is good for a wild or wildlife garden
04:26 Natural screens create insect habitats
05:34 Try to retain mature trees as they are a major part of the eco-system. Prune, shape or trim them instead of cutting them down.
06:11 Use hedges and climbers to create wildlife friendly boundaries
06:40 Native plants are usually better for wildlife than imported varieties
07:02 Think about creating different habitats - this is shady with bark and ferns
07:36 A sand garden - yet another habitat for different native plants and wildlife
07:34 Use a grid with pebbles instead of concrete as a shed base or path
08:20 Introducing plants to a wild garden
08:48 How much gardening does a wildlife garden need?
10:03 Introducing plants to the bog garden
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All Comments (21)
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I am struck by how giving this garden design is... she gets to enjoy the wildlife and songbirds drawn to the pond, as do her neighbors. Beneficial on many levels!
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I can see why this type of garden got a gold medal. It’s so natural in form. It lends itself to the support of nature yet humans can throughly enjoy the splendor of it. I love what can be done with small spaces. These types of videos are such a learning experience. Although I have large expansive areas where I live here in Missouri it helps me divide up my area into rooms and incorporate things such as this wildlife garden. What a fantastic idea to keep the pond full with rainwater from the roof of the house. I’m going to keep this in mind for future reference. Video gets two thumbs up from me.
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Just goes to show that you don't need a big garden to make an impact! Just love the simplicity and tranquillity of it all. What a total transformation. To think It's only 2 years old! We all need to do more to create ecologically friendly spaces in our gardens. She's lucky to had her son to help her out.I need to learn more as I'm a total newbie to gardening...been gardening only for 2 years. Thanks for this great video.
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Ann's garden is amazing! Her son thought of everything, I love their kindness and thoughtfulness towards wildlife. I'm envious that she really doesnt have to work hard to have such a glorious garden. Thank you Alexandra for showing us this work of art.
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this is just fabulous. well done mother and son!
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I agree, we have decided to leave our garden to be wild, which being a third of an acre was quite overwhelming at times. It has been a lesson in NOT fiddling which has been a lesson in mindfulness in and of itself. I had a cloud of butterflies when I walked through the daisies the other morning. This morning through the longer grass at the bottom I noticed the black tips on the ears of a rabbit - which apparently could be a hare. I love my wild garden, but that is probably because I have not got any idea about planned borders. I just plant what I like and see what happens 😌 Thank you for the detailed instructions on the pond too. That's our next project is a wild pond. Really enjoyable video today.
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I love everything about this garden. I’m doing something similar but on an even smaller scale and it makes me feel as though I’m contributing in the best way I can. I love The Middle-Sized garden and this is probably my favorite video so far. Absolutely lovely. Thank you
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Since you introduced this style of gardening with Joel Ashton, I’ve been adding to my English garden here in the USA, Cleveland OH, wildlife friendly elements, so many new volunteers in the beds, it’s like nature saying, thank you for a place to live. Also William Robinson’s book has been a blessing. Today I noticed self heal blooming in my new meadow, joining the white clover. Amazing to see how easy and fun my garden is. My native plants are happy to live with the other flowers and shrubs. Thank you Alexandra, for expanding the possibility of what a garden can be!
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The most beautiful small garden I can think of. Brilliant design by her son and brilliant gardening by her.
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The psychological benefits of this kind of garden are immeasurable!!!!
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What a wonderful way to preserve wild life, be lucky enough to have a son able to carry out all the work with the eco system , and the knowledge to carry it out. An absolute pleasure to watch. A perfect treat for a Saturday afternoon.
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How beautiful and serene. Well done! Cheers from Canada 🇨🇦
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What a fantastic garden. It's SO interesting to observe the native animals, birds and insects!
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What a delightful space! Alexandra, I just love the interviews you do! Thirty+ years ago my husband directed our downspouts to two half metal tanks partially buried into the ground, surrounded by a brick wall, to collect the water from the roof. Those "ponds" have attracted everything from ducks to deer. 💝
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This is just wonderful! I am amazed at the fact that it is largely self seeded and so low maintenance….my dream garden!
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We call those rain gardens here. In Indianapolis, the county gives you a discount on your sewer bill for installing one as the area is full of flood plains. But this garden takes it to a whole new level--it's relaxing and peaceful and looks a lot bigger than it did as just a patch of lawn.
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This is wonderful. We need to offer havens for nature in our gardens. Please show more of these types of gardens. They inspire us to do better!
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A wonderful example of what we can do in our neighborhood small yards. Love it!
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What an amazing garden. I love that it's in such a small space and what was previously such a bog standard suburban garden. Inspiring.
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I really enjoyed this program and learned from it. I'd like to see more city wildlife gardens in the future. As always, I love the Middle-Sized Garden!
