We are thrilled that Alison will be speaking to us at The Blackberry Garden about her experiences cultivating a wild garden. It’s great to have one of the best in the business sharing her insights into what it takes.
There’s plenty to be inspired by here!
Developing Wild I have written often that when I moved to my current location I bought a garden and the house came with it. This garden’s rarity as a blank canvas was one of its most appealing qualities. The previous owner had set the whole garden to lawn with only a couple of trees and the odd rose bush to call its own.
One of the first things I decided was that I would let the top third of the garden grow wild as I walked around it contemplating what might happen there. Whilst ostensibly a flat garden, there are contours and ridges and there was a definable area that lent itself to being left to just be.
If I am being honest I did not do this with the word ‘sustainability’ in mind, but I did want to see what would happen and I did think it would be good for wildlife and pollinators.
Moving house and garden
I moved into the house in September and just let the grass grow whilst I set to making borders and initial plantings elsewhere in the garden.
To my amazement in the spring, I was greeted by the sight of wild violets. As the year progressed, ragwort, nettles, and thistles made their presence felt. I controlled the nettles a bit because I had plenty generally and I do get tired of being stung.
I knew that ragwort is poisonous for horses, but there are no horses anywhere nearby the garden, so I did not see this as an issue.
I was unaware that they would draw cinnabar moths, whose caterpillars consume this plant, to their nests. I did not even know what a cinnarbar moth was until I saw them in the garden and had to google them.
My decision to create a wild garden was supported by this alone. Creating a wild garden
Years have passed and at times I have attempted to tinker with this area. I have planted yellow rattle plugs to try and reduce the height of the grass.
The grass grows very long, nothing like the short respectable meadow areas I see on my travels.
The cow parsley runs rampant and I try and deadhead it before it can set too much seed and take over the garden completely.
I once planted some more wildflowers in this area from a local seller of native wildflowers. My wild garden tolerated them for a year and then carried on in its own way.
I have successfully planted some trees in this area. a silver birch, medlar, and quince, as well as an amalanchier and euonymous tree. Although my garden is bordered by field maples, hawthorn, and blackthorn trees, I admit that I don’t worry too much about only planting native trees there. However, I also know that native trees will probably thrive best, so they will remain the most prominent. Taking care throughout the seasons Numerous snowdrops have been successfully planted in this garden by me. I am delighted when snowdrops appear in the last days of winter and early spring. This is the most cultivated that this part of the garden has become.
I mow paths through it but generally I do not tinker with it anymore.
It has made its opinions very clear on what it wants to grow and not grow and I listen and learn from it.
The rest of the garden also tells me what should go where and what should be done, yet at times I speak over it and impose my will.
I love all parts of my garden but the wild garden has a spirit of its own that I treasure.
I am lucky to have around 1/3 acre garden to play with, but a wild patch does not have to be large, a small neglected area in that difficult corner you struggle to garden anyway is perfect for a moment of joy to our wildlife and insects.
We all want our gardens to grow and buzz, and a brief period of chaos in the garden does just that.
