Ten ways we garden for nature (and you can too):
All of these things are simple to do, can work in a garden of any size and most are completely free!
- We grow as many different flowering plants as we can so there’s always something in bloom, this helps give food to wildlife all year round.
- We choose plants that produce lots of flowers for a long time so that every space works as hard for nature as it can.
- We grow as many different flower types as we can because that will encourage most wildlife diversity. We won’t grow plants with highly modified flowers that have less nature value - they are not period anyway!
- We make all our own compost for the garden. Recycling all our green waste helps create healthy soil and healthier plants.
- We are planting more trees because we know that this is the single most impactful thing we can do in a garden for wildlife. If a tree has to be taken down, we will leave a stump where we can as this provides homes for insects, and food and shelter for birds.
- We are reducing our mowing and keeping some areas of long grass as habitat and food for insects.
- We create ‘everlasting’ log piles in both shady and sunny areas – when they break down, we add to them creating the perfect places for fungi, moss and lichens to grow and a valuable home for insects and rare animals, such as frogs and toads.
- We feed the birds all year round.
- We don't use glysophate for our formal paths, this is a harmful chemical that can pollute our water.
- All plants grown at Ham House are peat free. Peat is an incredible material that, if protected, provides a natural habitat to a wealth of wildlife, preserves ancient relics beneath the ground and helps keep today’s air clean.
Come and see for yourself
Where we are, in London, green space is especially precious so as well as being wildlife friendly, we strongly believe a garden should be people-friendly too!
Whether you come to Ham to unwind in a quiet spot watching bees and butterflies dance between flowers, discover taste sensations in our tasting garden, or let the kids play hide and seek between the hornbeam hedges - we hope you will make yourself at home and perhaps take some ideas away to try at home.
What are your top tips for nature gardening? We’d love to hear from you at hamhouse@nationaltrust.org.uk and if you send us a photo of nature in your garden we will pick the best to share on our social media.