Early days when just created

I think most of us are all well aware by now of the importance of setting aside land for wildlife, or at least, including wildlife in our own plans for the garden, with a special nod to bees.  Hambleton District Council developed land for recreational purposes  in 2016 as part of the Sowerby Gateway masterplan. Consequently,  not only does the Sports Village play host to several football teams at once, there is a cycling and running track, with a mountain biking pathway running alongside and…

So importantly in this day and age, this forward thinking council decided on planting not just for humans, but for wildlife. Therefore along one edge of this sports and recreational area  are posts with birdhouses.                .       

and throughout the village there are trees galore, hedges, and  so so importantly wild plants and grasses carefully planted along the periphery. These are left to flourish  until the autumn, then cut back, to return  bigger and better the following year.

As I walked along the mountain bike trail, all I could hear were birds and bees, but no cottonwood trees! The  hawthorn, dog roses and other hedging shrubs were fit and  healthy and the wild flowers had bloomed in abundance.   Frost Magazine applauds this careful use of land which balances the mown grass required by the middle section for  the team sports, with the needs of the wildlife. And let’s face it, for our wellbeing too.

 

 

Mountain bike trail guarded by wild flowers, daisies and cow parsley.

The wild flowers  are numerous, including cow parsley, comfrey, dog roses, herb-robert, oxe-eye daisies. I saw campion, vetch, a multitude of grasses, clumps of clover, purple and white, and poppies, of course. Much like some babies, the wild areas were a bit bald in their first year, but now, here  they are, strong, determined.

                                     

They say patience is a virtue and never more so with gardening, even wildlife gardening. The hum of the bees along the track,  alternates with the cheers of the spectators as the school teams battle away.  Much like our wildlife  has to battle these days. For them, though, it is a battle for their very existence as more and more  land is taken for development.

So what can be done? I note that many councils are turning mown verges into wildflower areas – hooray. I have already shown how Hambleton District Council have created an oasis of enlightenment and common sense at the Sports Village, so onto us, as individuals. Let’s face it, even if we are restricted to pots on a balcony, we can, each, still  grow plants with bees, butterflies and wildlife in mind.

 Remember that bees are crucial to our existence, so preferably no pesticides, create ground level holes in fences –  if possible – so that hedgehogs can travel through.  Bees need pollen and nectar. They love cowslips, herbs, plus campion, comfrey which can be grown at the back of a bed,  nepeta, honeysuckle, herbs, lavender, digitalis, pussy willow, hawthorn,  forget-me-not and on and on. Buddleia is such a useful shrub, beloved of bees and butterflies alike, and so easy to grow. But listen, you can find out more from the internet or library.

Ah, don’t forget bees also need water. Make sure the birdbath is kept replenished.

We all know of, or have experienced  some organisations,  housing developments and indeed people, who are lagging behind in their understanding of the need to create a balance between human and wildlife needs. In a new development I visited, I was therfore delighted to find that many residents are growing bee and wildlife friendly plants in their gardens. Frost Magazine was invited to ‘come in, have a look’, and here are some  images.

Sage, rosemary and Old English roses.   Nepeta, poppies, roses.                                      Honeysuckle.

Most had birdbaths, bird feeders,and forget-me-nots in spring, along with the usual bulbs. Honeysuckle, nepeta, Old English Roses, digitalis, buddleia, lavender and herbs all flourished. The  murmur of bees, and the flight of the butterflies, not to mention birds at the feeders was a sight and sound to behold, even in the smallest garden.

                                                  

Frost Magazine sounds a huge hooray for  Hambleton District Council and the owners of the gardens we visited, and would give them a medal, (if there was such a one) for their thoughtful and balanced  designs, and would urge our readers to consider nature in their own planting schemes. There is not a moment to lose. And let’s have more verges, and set aside spaces for wild flowers, shrubs. It’s not too much to ask, I feel for the world our children are growing up into.