Harbour Gardens - Poole
(01202) 985 415
Encouraging Wildlife
into an urban garden
When we bought our house some time ago the whole garden was totally paved and had only a thin margin of soil around the edges, and it was enclosed with a fence of wooden panels.
Our new garden was a barren waste with no wild life, no flowers or growing things, just a concrete square with room for chairs and a table, but because of Covenants and Planning Laws we weren’t able to do anything about that.So we set out to improve and change things within the constraints of what we were allowed to do.
We planted climbers in the soil margins to grow up and cover the fences (variegated ivy, roses and clematis). Then we introduced big pots in which to plant spectacular seasonal flowers to give us colour and joy. We planted a Wysteria against the house and early on we had our first bird table.
That was better, the birds and bees visited us and It was pretty to look at and much nicer to sit in. But then we moved on even further from our small beginnings. We put an archway over the garden gate and planted a climbing rose to tumble over it.
We had a small corner with more exposed soil than elsewhere so we planted a small ornamental tree and we added an espalier apple tree in a half barrel to grow against a sunny wall.
The more we planted the more the wild creatures came to visit us and we now have flocks of visiting birds all year round and Great tits nest every year in a bird box hidden in the wisteria.
We added a water feature which was the jewel in the crown, adding the sound of tinkling water to the bird song and the hum of bees. Our patio garden is now established, easy maintenance and a joy to be in.
We choose our plants differently now. They are always chosen for colour, beauty and perfume, but now we make sure the pollinators and butterflies like what we buy too, as a garden without its wild visitors is quite soulless.
Our small, paved back garden is no longer a barren waste, but vibrant and alive and our little piece of paradise.
