When climate change-overwhelm & frustration gets to you, & it does pretty much on a daily basis. Remember this positive fact.
Your garden, balcony or window box, however small, forms a network of gardening spaces. There are an estimated 24 million gardens in the U.K., that’s a lot of grass, trees & plants, all providing food & habitats for beneficial insects, bees, birds & wildlife in general …. & so much more!
The point is, our combined efforts, can make a difference to the fight against climate change.
But where to start?
Well, we gardeners are perfectly placed to get things done.
- We can plant trees to soak up carbon from the atmosphere & excess ground water during flash flooding.
- Plant hedges to provide shelter for birds instead of putting up fences.
- We can stop paving over the entire front garden, when permeable paving/gravel & plants around the edge would soak up rain-water … instead of directing it out onto the road.
I’m going to writing more about this topic every month, sharing thoughts, information & cheering you on with practical ideas.
The first one will be about planting trees. They help climate change by absorbing & storing carbon dioxide emissions, & whats more, autumn is the ideal time for tree planting.
Please a comment below & let me know what you do in your garden to combat climate change & what you’d like to hear more about on this topic.
You might like to have a look at this report by the Royal Horticultural Society. It’s brief & very readable ‘Gardening In A Changing Climate’
Jill
all photos: Jill Anderson
Jill: Not quite on subject, but I do have a question. We just had soil tested around 3 Sky Pencil Hollies that have died, not once, but twice. yes, we replaced all 3 and they died again. I watered, mulched etc. but to no avail. So, now it appears the soil has ‘Phytophthora’ fungus…Bartlett has given me some shrubs that are resistant, but do you know any trees? I want the Cercis Rising Sun but it’s really too big. This is a hot and sunny spot! Those hollies were going to be a perfect counterpoint to a cherry at the other end of the slope! Any suggestions welcome; many thanks.
Hi Libby, How maddening for you! there are different types of Phytophthora, so it depends which one your garden has.
I’m sending this link from the RHS website which should help.
Good luck with it all.
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=542